Greenhouse gas emissions and cross-national happiness: a global perspective

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

This study examines how different forms of greenhouse gases affect happiness, along with other socioeconomic and demographic variables. The study uses a panel data analysis to investigate the relationship between happiness and greenhouse gases for 95 countries, spanning the period 1990–2015. The empirical analysis is based on different measures of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide emissions (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), and total greenhouse gases (GHG). The empirical results document that greenhouse gases have a strong negative impact on happiness. All forms of greenhouse gases adversely impact cross-national happiness. This study concludes that greenhouse gases are a significant source of lowering cross-national happiness levels, while economic affluence is improving life satisfaction. The findings remain robust to different specifications, alternative estimation methods, and additional control variables. The findings offer certain important policy implications, such as policymakers in these countries need to invest more in green technologies and green spaces to enhance their supply and accessibility.