Energy Security and the Green Growth Agenda in Africa: Exploring Trade-offs and Synergies

Akinyemi Opeyemi,Alege Philip,Osabuohıen Evans,Ogundipe Adeyemi

doi:10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n1s1p375

Akinyemi Opeyemi, Alege Philip + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n1s1p375

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Abstract

The paper examines the effect of the green growth agenda on energy security in Africa using a longitudinal data for the period 1996-2013. The study captures energy security using two basic measures; an aspect sees it as provision of environmentally sustainable energy and alternately in terms of availability/accessibility of energy. Our result shows that the effect of the green growth strategies in ensuring energy security is negligible. On the other hand, consistent with the energy ladder hypothesis, income plays a major influence on energy security in Africa. The study suggests the need to strengthen the institutional arrangement in ensuring the green growth strategies in terms of energy investment and adherence to strict environmental regulation are adequately executed. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n1s1p375

Highlights

Sustainable development has been described as development which caters for the present generation without depleting resources for the future generation
The OLS and the static panel regression show that energy security is more responsive to GDP per capita, causing about 98 percent, 24 percent and 48 percent in the OLS, fixed effect and random effect regressions respectively
Similar to the evidence obtained using the static regression, GDP per capita exerts the highest variation on energy security. This implies that income determines the choice of energy sources used; this is consistent with the energy ladder hypothesis where income is seen as a primary factor for adopting cleaner energy sources

Summary

Introduction

Sustainable development has been described as development which caters for the present generation without depleting resources for the future generation. A development that is sustainable involves the development of economic and social activities and likewise the protection of the environment in a balanced manner. An economy that intends to grow in a sustainable manner must develop a new economic model that will enhance development, alleviates poverty and improve overall quality of life. Green growth essentially seeks to promote efficient utilization of resources, ensure equity and takes the environment into consideration in all production techniques. It represents an attempt at reconciling growth and the environment. If the goal is to protect global environment, raise living standards and ensure reliable energy supplies; green growth is important and inevitable [1]

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