The Impacts of Urban Sprawl on Environmental Pollution, Agriculture, and Energy Consumption: Evidence From Amman City

Abstract

Purpose: Urban sprawl can cause an increase in economic development, and as a result, it is followed by increased consumption of energy, waste generation, urbanization, and reduced green land. In this sense, the current study aims to investigate the impacts of urban sprawl on environmental pollution, in terms of CO2 emissions, while considering other control variables. Further, this study explores the relationship between population growth and agricultural land and energy consumption, in the period between 2008 to 2020, in Amman city. Method/design/approach: This study employs the STIRPAT model and the panel unit root test, and the panel cointegration test (ADF), in order to investigate the effect of urban sprawl on the emissions of CO2. Theoretical framework: Urban expansion is a low-density, dispersed, and poorly planned form of spatial growth that has a number of detrimental effects on the quality of the environment. Results and conclusion: The results describe that waste generation, economic development, and urbanization had negative impacts on CO2 emissions. Research implications: The findings indicated the influence of urban growth on the consumption of energy and agricultural land in Amman. Originality/value: This work can provide possible solutions to reduce the impacts of urban sprawl on the environment through implementing regulations and policies and re-adjustment of urban land use in an efficient manner.