251. Achieving carbon neutrality in Africa is possible: the impact of education, employment, and renewable energy consumption on carbon emissions.
- Author
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Elom, Chinyere Ori, Onyeneke, Robert Ugochukwu, Ankrah, Daniel Adu, Deffor, Eric Worlanyo, Ayerakwa, Hayford Mensah, and Uwaleke, Chidebe Chijioke
- Subjects
CARBON emissions ,CARBON offsetting ,ENERGY consumption ,RENEWABLE energy sources ,FIXED effects model ,SUSTAINABILITY ,RANDOM effects model ,EDUCATIONAL finance - Abstract
This paper analysed the causal link between education, employment, renewable energy consumption and carbon emissions in Africa, where there is scant evidence. Relying on panel data obtained from the World Development Indicators for thirty-two African countries covering a period of 19 years, and five panel rigorous regression models, we found that renewable energy, investment in education, school enrolment, net national income per capita, and employment had negative and significant effects on carbon emission, thus increasing these predictors would result in significant reduction in carbon emission in Africa. We identified a bidirectional causality between carbon emissions and net national income per capita, education expenditure and renewable energy consumption, and carbon emissions and employment. Our findings suggest that investment in education, renewable energy, and employment are relevant in mitigating carbon emissions in Africa. We recommend African governments to invest heavily in education, improve school enrolment, environmental education, renewable energy and employment provision to mitigate carbon emissions. Highlights: • Achieving carbon neutrality in Africa is important. • This research investigated the impact of education, employment, and renewable energy consumption on carbon emissions in Africa. • This study utilized five panel regression models – fixed effect with Driscoll-Kraay standard errors, panel fixed effect model, random effect model, panel fully modified ordinary least square model, and panel canonical correlation analysis and panel data from 32 African countries. • The results shed new light on the emission reduction potential of renewable energy consumption, education expenditure, school enrolment, per capita income, and employment. • This article offers recommendations to attain carbon neutrality and environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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