Assessing sustainable development goals attainment through energy-environmental efficiency: The case of Latin American and Caribbean countries

This study evaluates the attainment of sustainable development goals (SDGs) using energy-environmental effi-ciency as a principal driver. Hicks-Moorsteen Index, based on optimal targets, is utilized to estimate the per-formance of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) countries towards SDGs. Performance is decomposed into catch-up efficiency and technological progress. Results show that, compared to 2012, only 15% of the coun-tries evaluated exhibit improved catch-up efficiency in 2020, while 74% of the countries evaluated showed technological progress in 2020 compared to 2012. Improvement in SDGs attainment in LAC results from tech-nological advancement and not catch-up efficiency. Gross catch-up inefficiency appears to obstruct SDGs attainment. The regression elaborates the indirect extrinsic socio-economic dimension of the SDGs accom-plishment. Specifically, the results of the fully modified ordinary least squares and generalized method of mo-ments for the examined years support the desired prospects for green productivity among the cross-section of LAC. Moreover, in each of the upper years, the result suggests that environmental performance and renewable energy-induced economic progress are vital for the examined countries' sustainable green productivity. Notably, the result predicts a slow but progressive path toward achieving the SDGs, suggesting more intentional and inclusive effort by the respective economies.