Energy–Climate–Economy–Population Nexus: An Empirical Analysis in Kenya, Senegal, and Eswatini

Samuel Asumadu Sarkodie,Emmanuel Ackom,Festus Victor Bekun,Phebe Asantewaa Owusu

doi:10.3390/su12156202

Samuel Asumadu Sarkodie, Emmanuel Ackom + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su12156202

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Abstract

Motivated by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and its impact by 2030, this study examines the relationship between energy consumption (SDG 7), climate (SDG 13), economic growth and population in Kenya, Senegal and Eswatini. We employ a Kernel Regularized Least Squares (KRLS) machine learning technique and econometric methods such as Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS), Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) regression, the Mean-Group (MG) and Pooled Mean-Group (PMG) estimation models. The econometric techniques confirm the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis between income level and CO2 emissions while the machine learning method confirms the scale effect hypothesis. We find that while CO2 emissions, population and income level spur energy demand and utilization, economic development is driven by energy use and population dynamics. This demonstrates that income, population growth, energy and CO2 emissions are inseparable, but require a collective participative decision in the achievement of the SDGs.

Highlights

The United Nations (UN) sustainable development goals (SDGs) cover multiple pressing issues that are established to help address key global as well as local challenges by 2030
Motivated by the UN SDGs and their potential impact by 2030, this study examines the relationship between energy consumption (SDG 7), climate (SDG 13), economic growth (SDG 8) and population in selected sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries namely Kenya, Senegal and Eswatini located in three regions in East Africa, West Africa and Southern Africa, respectively
In contrast to a previous study [39] in Senegal that found energy consumption to decline CO2 emissions, our study shows that energy consumption has a positive impact on environmental pollution in Senegal and Eswatini, while an increase in economic growth in Eswatini increases CO2 emission in the short-run

Summary

Introduction

Motivated by the UN SDGs and their potential impact by 2030, this study examines the relationship between energy consumption (SDG 7), climate (SDG 13), economic growth (SDG 8) and population in selected sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries namely Kenya, Senegal and Eswatini located in three regions in East Africa, West Africa and Southern Africa, respectively. The theme was popularized in a study that examined the inverse relationship between economic growth and pollutant emissions [4]. Several studies on economic development and energy utilization from country-specific time series to panel data settings have been presented extensively but lack consensus [7]. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has little entry into the theme; it provides an opportunity for empirical assessment This is timely, owing to the limited and sporadic studies on the theme across three strategic countries with a similar path to independence. Kenya Vision 2030 targets at helping to transform the country to a middle-income industrialized country and consequent improvement in livelihood, socioeconomics, and environmental sustainability

Senegal

Eswatini

Results and Discussion

Conclusions