{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,13]],"date-time":"2026-07-13T14:09:04Z","timestamp":1783951744364,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":53,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,1]],"date-time":"2025-08-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1754006400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Energy Transition Grants (ETG), iRMC, UNITEN","award":["202204004ETG"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["202204004ETG"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS One"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This study aims to examine the impact of energy consumption, i.e., coal and gas, on environmental sustainability by utilizing CO2 emissions as a proxy to emphasize Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices in the electricity supply company of Malaysia. To do so, we collect time series data from Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) Sustainability Reports spanning 2016\u20132021. Since the data is short time series data, this study deploys the Prais-Winsten (AR1) regression technique, which is able to produce robust estimates from the short data. Besides, this method is also able to overcome the issues of heteroscedasticity and autocorrelation issues in the dataset. Additionally, we also employ the Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression method to check the robustness of our estimation. The findings of the study reveal that energy consumption, i.e., coal and gas, strongly affects the environmental sustainability channel through CO2 emissions. The result indicates that the electricity supply company of Malaysia still aggravates the environmental degradation using coal and gas in energy production, while the study also shows from the long-run trends that the sector has considerably decreased the CO2 emissions in recent years by 0.60%. Since the emission is still significant, this study emphasizes the need for a cautious approach to energy sources in order to reduce environmental effects. The study suggests that policymakers should review the existing energy use and CO2 emissions policy to strengthen environmental sustainability and ESG standards in Malaysia\u2019s electricity generation industry, reduce dependency on fossil fuels, and hasten the adoption of renewable energy sources.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0327744","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,1]],"date-time":"2025-08-01T17:29:26Z","timestamp":1754069366000},"page":"e0327744","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Impact of energy consumption on environment sustainability in upholding ESG practices in Malaysia: Evidence from electricity supply company"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"20","author":[{"given":"Muhummad Khairul","family":"Islam","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0432-5569","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Muhammad Nazmul","family":"Hoque","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6686-0199","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Kazi","family":"Musa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nisaa Husnina","family":"Binti Zulkifli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,1]]},"reference":[{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0327744.ref001","first-page":"45","article-title":"The role of ESG practices in promoting sustainability: A global perspective","volume":"14","author":"J Smith","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Sustain Dev"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0327744.ref002","first-page":"210","article-title":"The electricity supply sector in Malaysia: A review of challenges and opportunities","volume":"49","author":"A Chua","year":"2021","journal-title":"Energy Policy"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0327744.ref003","first-page":"112","article-title":"Integrating environmental sustainability into corporate strategies: A case study of Malaysia\u2019s electricity supply company","volume":"30","author":"H Ismail","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Environ Manag"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0327744.ref004","first-page":"76","article-title":"ESG Practices and Sustainable Development Goals: A Malaysian Perspective","volume":"18","author":"S Kaur","year":"2023","journal-title":"Sustainability"},{"key":"pone.0327744.ref005","unstructured":"Malaysian Energy Information Hub. Energy Mix in Malaysia\u2019s Electricity Supply Company. 2024."},{"key":"pone.0327744.ref006","unstructured":"Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Malaysia. Report on Energy Sources and Their Environmental Impacts. 2023."},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0327744.ref007","first-page":"89","article-title":"Renewable Energy Potential in Malaysia: A Comprehensive Overview","volume":"25","author":"Malaysian Sustainable Energy Development Authority","year":"2021","journal-title":"Renewable Energy Journal"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0327744.ref008","first-page":"201","article-title":"Environmental implications of energy sources in Malaysia: A comparative analysis","volume":"15","author":"H Ismail","year":"2022","journal-title":"Environmental Science Review"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0327744.ref009","first-page":"320","article-title":"Corporate sustainability practices in Malaysia: Insights from the electricity supply sector","volume":"18","author":"R Sulaiman","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Corporate Soc Responsib"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0327744.ref010","article-title":"Transforming manufacturing sector: bibliometric insight on ESG performance for green revolution","volume":"5","author":"KI Khan","year":"2024","journal-title":"Discov Sustain"},{"key":"pone.0327744.ref011","unstructured":"International Energy Agency. Energy system of Malaysia. 2025. Available from: https:\/\/www.iea.org\/countries\/malaysia\/electricity"},{"key":"pone.0327744.ref012","unstructured":"Tenaga Nasional Berhad. Tenaga Nasional Berhad. 2025. Available from: https:\/\/www.tnb.com.my\/about-tnb\/our-business"},{"key":"pone.0327744.ref013","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1017\/CBO9781139192675","volume-title":"Strategic management: A stakeholder approach","author":"RE Freeman","year":"2010"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0327744.ref014","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"147","DOI":"10.2307\/2095101","article-title":"The Iron Cage Revisited: Institutional Isomorphism and Collective Rationality in Organizational Fields","volume":"48","author":"PJ DiMaggio","year":"1983","journal-title":"American Sociological Review"},{"key":"pone.0327744.ref015","unstructured":"Energy Commission. Malaysia Energy Information Hub. Retrieved from National Energy Balance 2021. 2024 October 7. Available from: https:\/\/meih.st.gov.my\/documents\/10620\/0533ae61-2fd0-4c67-bdf9-07c51c468840"},{"issue":"8","key":"pone.0327744.ref016","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2200","DOI":"10.3390\/en14082200","article-title":"The Trend and Status of Energy Resources and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Malaysia Power Generation Mix","volume":"14","author":"SN Abdul Latif","year":"2021","journal-title":"Energies"},{"key":"pone.0327744.ref017","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4318","DOI":"10.1016\/j.egyr.2023.10.084","article-title":"From growth to green: Navigating the complexities of economic development, energy sources, health spending, and carbon emissions in Malaysia","volume":"10","author":"A Raihan","year":"2023","journal-title":"Energy Reports"},{"issue":"01","key":"pone.0327744.ref018","first-page":"17","article-title":"The Impact of Oil Price and Government Expenditure on Economic Growth in Malaysia","volume":"13","author":"NB Zakaria","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Res Pract Pub Sect Acc Manag"},{"key":"pone.0327744.ref019","unstructured":"Malaysian Department of Energy. Strategic Energy Plan: Diversification of Energy Sources in Malaysia\u2019s Electricity Supply Company. 2023."},{"key":"pone.0327744.ref020","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1232","DOI":"10.3390\/eng5030067","article-title":"Economic, societal, and environmental impacts of available energy sources: A review","volume":"5","author":"F Al Mubarak","year":"2024","journal-title":"Eng"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0327744.ref021","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2048","DOI":"10.3390\/su15032048","article-title":"Exploring the Role of Fossil Fuels and Renewable Energy in Determining Environmental Sustainability: Evidence from OECD Countries","volume":"15","author":"H Hou","year":"2023","journal-title":"Sustainability"},{"key":"pone.0327744.ref022","unstructured":"Malaysia Smart Grid Roadmap. Promoting energy efficiency through smart grid technologies: initiatives by Malaysia\u2019s electricity supply company. 2020."},{"key":"pone.0327744.ref023","unstructured":"Malaysian Investment Development Authority. Renewable Energy Investment Trends in Malaysia: Opportunities and Challenges. 2023."},{"key":"pone.0327744.ref024","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1420","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rser.2016.09.055","article-title":"ASEAN power grid: A secure transmission infrastructure for clean and sustainable energy for South-East Asia","volume":"67","author":"T Ahmed","year":"2017","journal-title":"Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews"},{"key":"pone.0327744.ref025","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"112226","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rser.2022.112226","article-title":"Accelerating a clean energy transition in Southeast Asia: Role of governments and public policy","volume":"159","author":"J Aleluia","year":"2022","journal-title":"Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews"},{"key":"pone.0327744.ref026","unstructured":"National energy policy 2022\u20132040. Available from: www.ccs-co.com\/post\/national-energy-policy-2022-2040"},{"key":"pone.0327744.ref027","unstructured":"Global Reporting Initiative. ESG Reporting and Disclosure: Best Practices for Malaysia\u2019s Electricity Supply Company. 2021."},{"key":"pone.0327744.ref028","unstructured":"AQ Energy. ESG Framework Malaysia: What you should know? 2025. Available from: https:\/\/www.aq.energy\/blog\/esg-framework-malaysia"},{"key":"pone.0327744.ref029","first-page":"1","article-title":"Sustainable Energy Transition, Circular Economy, and ESG Practices","author":"V Kandpal","year":"2024","journal-title":"Sustainable Energy Transition"},{"key":"pone.0327744.ref030","unstructured":"Malaysia Sustainable Development Goals Roadmap. Engaging stakeholders for sustainable development: A framework for Malaysia\u2019s electricity supply company. 2023."},{"issue":"6","key":"pone.0327744.ref031","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"956","DOI":"10.3390\/atmos14060956","article-title":"Improvement in the Methodological Estimation of Sulfur Hexafluoride Use in Electrical Equipment for Malaysia\u2019s National Greenhouse Gas Inventory","volume":"14","author":"ES Tan","year":"2023","journal-title":"Atmosphere"},{"key":"pone.0327744.ref032","unstructured":"WWF Malaysia and Boston Consulting Group. Securing our future: net zero pathways for Malaysia. 2021."},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0327744.ref033","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"293","DOI":"10.1016\/S0960-1481(01)00177-X","article-title":"Emissions from electricity generation in Malaysia","volume":"27","author":"TMI Mahlia","year":"2002","journal-title":"Renewable Energy"},{"issue":"6","key":"pone.0327744.ref034","first-page":"59","article-title":"Reducing Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Malaysian Power Sector: Current Issues and Future Directions","volume":"1","author":"KA Babatunde","year":"2018","journal-title":"Engineering Journal"},{"key":"pone.0327744.ref035","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"143173","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2024.143173","article-title":"Carbon capture and storage at Malaysia power plants: Evaluation of its feasibility and requisite enablers","volume":"469","author":"E Nasir","year":"2024","journal-title":"Journal of Cleaner Production"},{"key":"pone.0327744.ref036","author":"Tokyo Electricity Power Generation (TEPCO)","year":"2023"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0327744.ref037","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"41","DOI":"10.3233\/AJW-170014","article-title":"Time Series Patterns and Relationship of Energy Consumption and CO2 Emissions in Malaysia","volume":"14","author":"RA Begum","year":"2017","journal-title":"Asian J Water Environ Pollut"},{"key":"pone.0327744.ref038","volume-title":"Malaysia energy transition outlook","author":"IRENA","year":"2023"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0327744.ref039","first-page":"22","article-title":"Sustainable power generation pathways in Malaysia: Development of long-range scenarios","volume":"24","author":"MSN Samsudin","year":"2016","journal-title":"J Adv Res Appl Mech"},{"key":"pone.0327744.ref040","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"685","DOI":"10.1016\/j.renene.2018.10.052","article-title":"The dynamic relationship of renewable and nonrenewable energy consumption with carbon emission: A global study with the application of heterogeneous panel estimations","volume":"133","author":"A Sharif","year":"2019","journal-title":"Renewable Energy"},{"key":"pone.0327744.ref041","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"115782","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jenvman.2022.115782","article-title":"The impact of renewable and non-renewable energy consumption on carbon emission intensity in China: Fresh evidence from novel dynamic ARDL simulations","volume":"320","author":"U Ali","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Environ Manage"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0327744.ref042","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"289","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apenergy.2010.05.010","article-title":"Life-cycle energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions for electricity generation and supply in China","volume":"88","author":"X Ou","year":"2011","journal-title":"Applied Energy"},{"key":"pone.0327744.ref043","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1093\/pan\/6.1.1","article-title":"Nuisance vs. Substance: Specifying and Estimating Time-Series-Cross-Section Models","volume":"6","author":"N Beck","year":"1996","journal-title":"Polit Anal"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0327744.ref044","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"331","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev-polisci-071510-103222","article-title":"Modeling Dynamics in Time-Series\u2013Cross-Section Political Economy Data","volume":"14","author":"N Beck","year":"2011","journal-title":"Annu Rev Polit Sci"},{"key":"pone.0327744.ref045","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"123374","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2020.123374","article-title":"Coherent or conflicting? Assessing natural gas subsidy and energy efficiency policy interactions amid CO2 emissions reduction in Malaysia electricity sector","volume":"279","author":"KA Babatunde","year":"2021","journal-title":"Journal of Cleaner Production"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0327744.ref046","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1720","DOI":"10.3390\/en16041720","article-title":"Malaysia\u2019s Electricity Decarbonisation Pathways: Exploring the Role of Renewable Energy Policies Using Agent-Based Modelling","volume":"16","author":"KA Babatunde","year":"2023","journal-title":"Energies"},{"key":"pone.0327744.ref047","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"138749","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2023.138749","article-title":"Co-production of biochar and electricity from oil palm wastes for carbon dioxide mitigation in Malaysia","volume":"423","author":"G Su","year":"2023","journal-title":"Journal of Cleaner Production"},{"issue":"7","key":"pone.0327744.ref048","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2835","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijhydene.2022.10.066","article-title":"Gasification process of palm kernel shell to fuel gas: Pilot-scale experiment and life cycle analysis","volume":"48","author":"SH Pranolo","year":"2023","journal-title":"International Journal of Hydrogen Energy"},{"issue":"11","key":"pone.0327744.ref049","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8960","DOI":"10.3390\/su15118960","article-title":"A Sustainable Development Evaluation Framework for Chinese Electricity Enterprises Based on SDG and ESG Coupling","volume":"15","author":"R Dong","year":"2023","journal-title":"Sustainability"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0327744.ref050","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2334102","DOI":"10.1080\/23322039.2024.2334102","article-title":"Green policy effect on firm sustainability: examining the stock performance of ESG adopters in heavy-polluter industry in Malaysia","volume":"12","author":"N Ishak","year":"2024","journal-title":"Cogent Econ Finance"},{"key":"pone.0327744.ref051","article-title":"Environmental, social and governance (ESG)-augmented investments in innovation and firms\u2019 value: a fixed-effects panel regression of Asian economies","author":"MA Khalil","year":"2022","journal-title":"China Finance Review International"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0327744.ref052","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"76","DOI":"10.1108\/QRFM-04-2021-0049","article-title":"Green sukuk \u2013 Malaysia surviving the bumpy road: performance, challenges and reconciled issuance framework","volume":"14","author":"JS Keshminder","year":"2022","journal-title":"Qual Res Financial Markets"},{"key":"pone.0327744.ref053","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"108360","DOI":"10.1016\/j.est.2023.108360","article-title":"Energy storage systems: A review of its progress and outlook, potential benefits, barriers and solutions within the Malaysian distribution network","volume":"72","author":"JY Lee","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Energy Storage"}],"container-title":["PLOS One"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0327744","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,1]],"date-time":"2025-08-01T17:29:34Z","timestamp":1754069374000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0327744"}},"subtitle":[],"editor":[{"given":"Nor Adilla","family":"Rashidi","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"editor"}]}],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,1]]},"references-count":53,"journal-issue":{"issue":"8","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,1]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0327744","relation":{},"ISSN":["1932-6203"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1932-6203","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,1]]}}}