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Carbon Emissions and Growth: The Role of Trade and Urbanization in Sub-Saharan Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Zwakele Dlamini

    (School of Economics, University of Johannesburg, South Africa)

  • Ntokozo Nzimande

    (School of Economics, University of Johannesburg, South Africa)

  • Mduduzi Biyase

    (School of Economics, University of Johannesburg, South Africa; & Department of Media Management, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran)

  • Hlalefang Khobai

    (School of Economics, University of Johannesburg, South Africa)

  • Mathias Manguzvane

    (School of Economics, University of Johannesburg, South Africa)

  • Sanele Gumede

    (School of Economics, University of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa)

Abstract

In this study, we employed a system generalised method of moments (GMM) to investigate the effect of trade, urbanization, and income on the environmental quality in a panel of 48 Sub-Saharan African countries, covering the period 1990-2018. Our findings demonstrated that urbanization does not have significant explanatory power over carbon emissions, whereas, trade positively and significantly drives emissions. Our findings further exhibit an inverted U-shape relationship between income and carbon dioxide emissions. This substantiates the existence of an Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is therefore concluded that policymakers can focus on growth-promoting policies and should not adopt stringent conservative policies, which may hurt growth and delay the process of reaching a turning point in the Kuznets curve.

Suggested Citation

  • Zwakele Dlamini & Ntokozo Nzimande & Mduduzi Biyase & Hlalefang Khobai & Mathias Manguzvane & Sanele Gumede, 2024. "Carbon Emissions and Growth: The Role of Trade and Urbanization in Sub-Saharan Africa," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 14(5), pages 605-614, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:eco:journ2:2024-05-62
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Trade; Emissions; Growth; Urbanization; Environmental Kuznets Curve;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C13 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Estimation: General
    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • Q43 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Energy and the Macroeconomy
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth

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