Direct Carbon Dioxide Emissions Research Articles

Measurement-based carbon intensity of US offshore oil and gas production

The United States (US) produces oil and gas from six offshore regions: the North Slope of Alaska, Cook Inlet in Alaska, offshore California, and three Gulf of Mexico (GOM) sub-regions: state shallow, federal shallow, and deep waters. Measurement-based assessment of direct greenhouse gas emissions from this production can provide real-world information on carbon emissions to inform decisions on current and future production. In evaluating the climate impact of production, the carbon intensity (CI, the ratio of greenhouse gases emitted compared to the energy of fuels produced) is often used, though it is rarely quantified with measurements. Here, we complete an observational evaluation of the US offshore sector and present the largest current set of measurement-based CIs. We collected airborne measurements of methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen oxides from the North Slope, Cook Inlet, and California and combined with prior GOM results. For Alaska and California, we found emissions agree with facility-level inventories, however, the inventories miss some facilities. The US offshore CI, on a 100 year GWP basis, is 5.7 g CO2e/MJ[4.5, 6.8, 95% confidence interval]. This is greater than double the CI based on the national US inventory, with the discrepancy attributed primarily to methane emissions from GOM shallow waters, with a methane dominated CI of 16[12, 22] for GOM federal shallow waters and 43[25–65] for state shallow waters. Regional intensities vary, with carbon dioxide emissions largely responsible for CI on the North Slope 11[7.5, 15], in Cook Inlet 22[13, 34], offshore California 7.2[3.2, 13], and in GOM deep waters 1.1[1.0, 1.1]. These observations indicate offshore operations outside of the GOM in the US have modest methane emissions, but the CI can still be elevated due to direct carbon dioxide emissions. Accurate assessment of different offshore basins, with differing characteristics and practices, is important for the climate considerations of expanded production.

Evolution of technology collaboration networks for climate change mitigation and mechanisms for their impacts

The number of patent ap plications for climate change mitigation technologies (CCMT) in China has shown a rapid development trend over the past decade. This study applies social network analysis (SNA) method and directed time-exponential random graph model(TERGM), while considering endogenous network structure variables, node variables and external network covariates, to analyze the Climate Change Mitigation Technology Innovation Cooperation Network (CCMTICN) formed in Chinese provinces, and analyzes the influencing factors and evolution of the CCMTICN from 2011 to 2021 using CCMT patent data from the Himmpat database. The results show that CCMTICN shows obvious core-edge structural characteristics; endogenous network structural variables have a non-negligible influence on the formation of the network, and other factors such as the information exchange network, industrialization level, knowledge level, and the degree of governmental intervention can promote the formation of CCMTICN; whereas, foreign direct investment, urbanization level, and carbon dioxide(CO2) emissions can inhibit the formation of CCMTICN. When considering the 11-year time effect of CCMTICN, it is found that the CCMT cooperative relationship between provinces remains relatively stable.

Modelling of on-farm greenhouse gas emissions from dual-purpose meat and wool sheep production in different geographical regions of Norway

The whole-farm model, HolosNorSheep, was developed to estimate net greenhouse gas emissions from dual purpose sheep production in Norway. The model adopted a cradle-to-farm gate system boundary and is based on the International Panel on Climate Change methodology and includes direct emissions from enteric and manure methane (CH4; GWP100=27), direct and indirect nitrous oxide (N2O; GWP100=273) from manure and soils, direct carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from energy use and indirect CO2 emissions from the production of input factors. Soil carbon balance is calculated using the ICBM-model. Emission intensities (CO2-eq/kg product) for sheep carcass and greasy wool, was estimated for five geographical regions of Norway (East, West, South, Mid and North). The geographical regions varied considerably in climate, feed resources, days on pasture and herd/farm management. Estimated emission intensities per kg carcass and greasy wool varied from 23.5 to 19.9 (Mid region) to 26.8 and 22.8 kg CO2-eq (North region) respectively. The difference between the Mid and North region was mainly due to higher CO2 and N2O emissions from use of fuel and N-fertilizer in the North, where a short growth season, and thus reduced grass yields, are compensated by using greater land area. Based on the distribution of sheep in the regions, and the emission intensities in each region, weighted average emission intensities per kg carcass and greasy wool were estimated as 25.1 and 23.3 kg CO2-eq, respectively. Five alternative methods for the allocation of the co-products were compared with the amounts allocated to greasy wool ranging from 0 % when using no allocation (i.e., all emissions allocated to the sheep carcass), 11 % for economic allocation, 12 % for mass allocation, 19 % for biophysical allocation based on energy requirement up to 31 % for allocation based on protein mass. The emission intensity for wool was highly sensitive to the allocation method used (range from 0 to 61 kg CO2-eq per kg greasy wool), while the effect on sheep carcass was lower (range 19 to 28 kg CO2-eq per kg carcass). For production systems where meat is the main product, as in Norway, allocation should be based on biophysical allocation based on energy requirement.

The Link between Human Development, Foreign Direct Investment, Renewable Energy, and Carbon Dioxide Emissions in G7 Economies

This research evaluates the determinants of pollution emissions, considering the human development index, international trade, renewable energy, and foreign direct investment (FDI) as explanatory variables. This study tests the relationship between trade intensity and FDI on carbon dioxide emissions, considering the arguments of the pollution haven hypothesis (PHH) versus halo pollution (HP). The econometric strategy applies panel data (fixed effects, random effects), a generalised linear model (Gamma), panel cointegration models such as FMOLS and DOLS, the ARDL panel model, and the panel quantile regressions to data from the G7 countries from 1990 to 2019. Before using econometric models, this investigation considers preliminary tests such as the panel unit root test (first and second generation) and the cointegration test. The econometric results show that human development decreased pollution emissions. In addition, renewable energy improves air quality and aims to reduce climate change. The inverted environmental Kuznets curve also supports the results when evaluating the relationship between the human development index and carbon dioxide emissions.

Evaluating The Nexus of Renewable Energy's in Economic Growth Realities: Autoregressive Distributed Lag Approach

This article about energy in an economic context, energy fossil has become one of the causes of issues faced by humanity. These problems have cascading impacts, ranging from climate damage to individual health and global socio-economic conditions. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of renewable energy, fossil energy, labor force, foreign direct investment and carbon dioxide emissions on economic growth. The analytical tool employed was the ARDL bound test. Secondary data from annual series spanning from 1986 to 2020. The study found a two-way cointegration between labor force, foreign direct investment, and economic growth. Based on the methodology used, conclusions were drawn regarding short-run and long-run relationships. In the short run, both fossil and renewable energy had unidirectional relationships with economic growth. Carbon dioxide emissions had a negative impact on economic growth in the short-run and the long-run. Labor force and economic growth exhibited a two-way relationship in the long-run. Consequently, energy transition policies and the imposition of carbon emission taxes could have negative short-run implications for Indonesia's economic growth, while the reverse may be true in the long run. Economic growth may reach a peak and then decline and policymakers should maximize existing non-renewable energy sources. A policy requiring to control more fossil fuel energy sources and discover untapped reserves is worthy of continuation and even strengthening. The findings provide an understanding of the relationship between renewable energy and economic growth as a necessity for the energy transition. The study has limitations in assumptions when interpreting the findings.

Behavior of Fibers in Geopolymer Concrete: A Comprehensive Review

Over the last decades, cement has been observed to be the most adaptive material for global development in the construction industry. The use of ordinary concrete primarily requires the addition of cement. According to the record, there has been an increase in the direct carbon footprint during cement production. The International Energy Agency, IEA, is working toward net zero emissions by 2050. To achieve this target, there should be a decline in the clinker-to-cement ratio. Also, the deployment of innovative technologies is required in the production of cement. The use of alternative binding materials can be an easy solution. There are several options for a substitute to cement as a binding agent, which are available commercially. Non-crystalline alkali-aluminosilicate geopolymers have gained the attention of researchers over time. Geopolymer concrete uses byproduct waste to reduce direct carbon dioxide emissions during production. Despite being this advantageous, its utilization is still limited as it shows the quasi-brittle behavior. Using different fibers has been started to overcome this weakness. This article emphasizes and reviews various mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced geopolymer concrete, focusing on its development and implementation in a wide range of applications. This study concludes that the use of fiber-reinforced geopolymer concrete should be commercialized after the establishment of proper standards for manufacturing.

Semi-Empirical Models for Stack and Balance of Plant in Closed-Cathode Fuel Cell Systems for Aviation

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in utilizing hydrogen as an energy carrier across various transportation sectors, including aerospace applications. This interest stems from its unique capability to yield energy without generating direct carbon dioxide emissions. The conversion process is particularly efficient when performed in a fuel cell system. In aerospace applications, two crucial factors come into play: power-to-weight ratio and the simplicity of the powerplant. In fact, the transient behavior and control of the fuel cell are complicated by the continuously changing values of load and altitude during the flight. To meet these criteria, air-cooled open-cathode Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells should be the preferred choice. However, they have limitations regarding the amount of thermal power they can dissipate. Moreover, the performances of fuel cell systems are significantly worsened at high altitude operating conditions because of the lower air density. Consequently, they find suitability primarily in applications such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Urban Air Mobility (UAM). In the case of ultralight and light aviation, liquid-cooled solutions with a separate circuit for compressed air supply are adopted. The goal of this investigation is to identify the correct simulation approach to predict the behavior of such systems under dynamic conditions, typical of their application in aerial vehicles. To this aim, a detailed review of the scientific literature has been performed, with specific reference to semi-empirical and control-oriented models of the whole fuel cell systems including not only the stack but also the complete balance of plant.

Carbon Dioxide and Nitrous Oxide Emissions from a Typical Sugarcane Soil in the Cauca River Valley, Colombia

Sugarcane is an important crop for tropical countries and to accurately inventory its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions baseline measurements are needed. In Colombia, sugarcane is one of the most important crops in terms of cultivated area and, paradoxically, scientific information reporting GHG emissions based on field measurements is almost nonexistent. The objective of this work was to quantify the direct emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) in the sugarcane-soil system of the Cauca river valley, Colombia. For this purpose, a field experiment was established in a typic haplustert soil cropped with sugarcane. The effects of nitrogen (N) fertilization and sampling site on its GHG emissions were tested using the closed static chamber method over a period of 211 days. The main cumulative emissions were 765.14 ± 34.1 g CO2–C m−2 and 125.4 ± 22.6 mg N2O–N m−2. Overall, GHG emissions were modified by N fertilization, the sampling site, and their interaction. Nitrogen fertilization with urea increased mean and cumulative CO2 and N2O emissions, especially at the row sampling site. This paper highlights the importance of considering these factors when the quantification of GHGs or a reduction of their associated uncertainties are required. This work reportss the first GHG emissions data for a typical sugarcane agroecosystem in Colombia.

Effects of Water Management and Rice Varieties on Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Central Japan

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from paddy fields depend on water management practices and rice varieties. Lysimeter experiments were conducted to determine the effect of rice varieties (lowland; Koshihikari (KH) and upland; Dourado Precoce (DP)) on GHG emissions under two water management practices: alternate wetting and drying (AWD) and continuous flooding (CF). A repeated cycle of drying and wetting in AWD irrigation was performed by drying the soil to −40 kPa soil matric potential and then rewetting. Consequently, the closed chamber method was used to measure direct emissions of methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and carbon dioxide (CO2). The result revealed that water management significantly affected CH4 and N2O emissions (p < 0.05), while no significant effect was observed between different rice varieties. Although, AWD irrigation reduced CH4 emissions, it increased N2O emissions compared to CF irrigation, likely due to increased oxygen supply. AWD irrigation decreased GWP by 55.6% and 59.6% in KH and DP, respectively, compared to CF irrigation. Furthermore, CH4 and N2O emissions significantly correlated with soil redox potential and volumetric water content. These results suggest that AWD irrigation might be an effective water management method for mitigating GHG emissions from rice fields in central Japan.

Which is more important, foreign direct investment inflow or outflow, on the pollution of European Union countries? Evidence from Panel Fourier symmetric and asymmetric causality.

Uncertainty remains regarding the impact of foreign direct investments on countries' environmental policies and pollution levels. Therefore, this study examines the relationship between foreign direct investment inflows, outflows, and carbon dioxide emissions for EU (European Union) member states. Accordingly, the data for the period 1993-2019 were subjected to the Panel Fourier symmetric and asymmetric causality tests for 21 EU countries. According to the Panel Fourier symmetric causality test results, the effect of foreign investment outflows on carbon dioxide emissions is more dominant in general. While there is a bidirectional relationship between these variables in the Austrian and Slovak Republics, there is a unidirectional relationship between foreign investment outflows to carbon dioxide emissions in Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, and Portugal. On the other hand, one-way causality was found from foreign investment inflows to carbon dioxide emissions in Belgium, Cyprus, France, Ireland, and Romania and from carbon dioxide emissions to foreign investment inflows in Finland, Greece, and Sweden. According to the Panel Fourier asymmetric causality test results, causality between variables is statistically significant in many countries. This shows that the asymmetric relationship is essential for the variables.

Techno-Economic Analysis of Electrochemical Refineries Using Solid Oxide Cells for Oxidative Coupling of Methane

With the shift away from fossil resources, there is a need for alternative pathways to carbon-based commodities such as ethylene. The electrochemical oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) enables the synthesis of higher hydrocarbons from simple organic molecules i.e., methane and has the potential to replace conventional ethylene production in the future. However, current solid oxide OCM cell development is still in an early stage and more comprehensive system-level analyses are needed to better understand operating conditions and economics to guide research and development. For this purpose, process models and new integration strategies for the electrochemical OCM process were developed. The integration of the electrochemical OCM unit into the plant revealed to be challenging based on current solid oxide cell designs and will be discussed as part of this presentation. The performance of the OCM plant is benchmarked against current state-of-the-art ethane steam cracker plants. In this context, key performance metrics are efficiency, direct and indirect carbon dioxide emissions, power consumption, plant cost and cost of ethylene. Of particular interest are aspects of hydrogen co-production and carbon dioxide utilization as well as the impact of carbon dioxide emission factors from the grid, which have shown to be of particular importance for electrochemical processes. Moreover, critical aspects of heat integration will be discussed including fuel pre-heating, carbon deposition and thermal cell management. The analysis will provide new insights into economic cost driving factors and the impact of cell cost, current density, overpotentials and Faraday efficiency upon the cost of ethylene. Based upon this information, performance targets will be recommended that will allow electrochemical OCM to become economically competitive in a free market environment.

Life cycle assessment comparison of point-of-use water treatment technologies: Solar water disinfection (SODIS), boiling water, and chlorination

Numerous different point-of-use (POU) water treatment technologies exist that can remove, reduce or inactivate microbial pathogens present in untreated drinking water. However, there have been uncertainties as to which technology is best suited to rural populations. Environmental impacts of these technologies can bring further threats to rural communities, so the life cycle assessment (LCA) approach is frequently used to compare different POU water treatment technologies. The present study uses LCA to compare three treatment options: solar water disinfection (SODIS) using a Transparent Jerrycan (TJC), boiling, and chlorination. A life cycle inventory database is created for each stage, calculating the embodied energy and transportation energy considering daily reliance for all the technologies. Direct carbon dioxide emission at the point of use of energy/fuel, particulate matter formation and smog formation analysis can help to implement the most appropriate technology. The life-cycle assessment in this study indicates that when considering the environmental impact associated with providing sufficient safe drinking water for a family of six over a period of 6 months, SODIS has been found to have better sustainability credentials as a water treatment technology (6.0 kg CO2e per functional unit) with low contribution in all the three impact categories, followed by chlorination (9.8 kg CO2 e per functional unit) and boiling water (6808 kg CO2e per functional unit).

Renewable energy, foreign direct investment and carbon dioxide emissions: Do sectoral value additions and policy uncertainty matter?

The effects of foreign direct investment (FDI) and renewable energy on disaggregated carbon emissions are examined, while accounting for sectoral value additions and policy uncertainty for 29 sub-Saharan Africa countries. The findings that emanate from the study based on the General Method of Moments technique indicate that renewable energy has adverse effect on both territorial-based and consumption-based CO2 emissions while FDI has a significant positive effect only on territorial emission. Furthermore, the agricultural and industrial sectors in particular were found to have significant effects on CO2 emissions. Finally, policy uncertainty contributes to territorial based emissions but not consumption-based emissions. Thus, reducing policy uncertainties in the economies of SSA has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions.

Foreign direct investment and renewable energy: Examining the environmental Kuznets curve in resource-rich transition economies

This study evaluates the nexus mechanism between foreign direct investment (FDI), economic growth (EG), renewable energy (REC), natural resources (NR), economic freedom (EF), and carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) in transition economies from 1998 to 2019. This research employed cross-sectional autoregressive distributed lag (CS-ARDL) and panel quantile regression (PQR) to assess the heterogeneity of the distributions. The estimates show a U-shaped nonlinear relationship between environmental pollution and economic growth, suggesting that the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis does not hold for transition countries. Foreign direct investment was found to have a positive association with carbonization, signifying the presence of the pollution haven hypothesis in transition economies. Further, a negative relationship was established between economic growth and carbon emissions at lower growth rates, which transpires to be positive when the pace of growth crosses the threshold value. We also found that renewable energy and economic freedom have a significant role in promoting environmental sustainability, as these variables have adverse and significant effects on CO2 emissions. This finding suggests that increasing renewable energy consumption and intensifying the transition towards a market-based economy should be the main priorities in formulating sustainable development strategies. This research also provides the causal relationships between the selected variables and CO2 emissions and policy recommendations for green economic development.

Front Cover: Hydrogen Production and Carbon Capture by Gas‐Phase Methane Pyrolysis: A Feasibility Study (ChemSusChem 6/2023)

The Front Cover shows an electrically heated high-temperature reactor that produces gaseous hydrogen and solid carbon by pyrolysis of methane that originates from natural gas or biogas. Pyrolytic methane decomposition is an industrially feasible process that allows large-scale hydrogen production and simultaneous carbon capture without any direct carbon dioxide emissions, hereby contributing to a transformation of the chemical industry towards more sustainability. More information can be found in the Research Article by P. Lott et al.

Study on Embodied CO2 Emissions and Transfer Pathways of Chinese Industries

Industries with low direct CO2 emissions downstream in the industry chain have significant carbon emissions upstream, which is similar to how carbon leakage in interprovincial regions and international commerce affects these regions. Due to the interchange and transit of goods, there are intermediate production and consumption processes across industrial sectors. The CO2 emissions produced by each sector are insufficient to satisfy the sector’s ultimate demand. It will also move along with the industrial chain. Investigating embodied carbon transfer across industrial sectors is crucial to strike a balance between economic growth and greenhouse gas emissions. Locating the key sectors to reduce carbon emissions provides a basis for formulating resource conservation and environmental protection policies. In this study, the industrial sector divides into 24 subsectors, and the embodied CO2 emissions and carbon transfer pathways of each are examined from the viewpoint of the industrial chain using the Economic Input–Output Life Cycle Assessment (EIO-LCA) and the Hypothetical Extraction Method (HEM). The indirect CO2 emissions downstream of the industrial chain are higher than the direct carbon dioxide emissions, and the intersectoral carbon transfer constitutes a significant part of the total carbon emissions of the industrial sector. The upstream sector of the industry chain has a significantly higher direct carbon emission intensity than the indirect CO2 emission intensity, while the downstream sector is the opposite. The production and supply of electricity, gas and water, and raw material industries transfer significant CO2 to other sectors. The manufacturing industry is mainly the inflow of CO2. CO2 flows from the mining industry to the raw material industry and from the raw material industry to the manufacturing industry constitute the critical pathway of carbon transfer between industries. A study on the embodied carbon emissions and transfer paths of various industrial sectors is conducive to clarifying the emission reduction responsibilities and providing a basis for synergistic emission reduction strategies.

Power enterprises-oriented carbon footprint verification system using edge computing and blockchain

The purpose is to study the Carbon Footprint (CF) verification system of power enterprises, promote the Low-Carbon Economy (LCE) in the power industry, and improve resource utilization during Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction (ECER). The Carbon Dioxide Emission (CDE) of power enterprises is explored based on the CF. First, Edge Computing (EC) is adopted to calculate the direct Carbon Dioxide Emission (CDE) of the Chinese power industry from 2005 to 2020 based on energy input. The direct CDE and the changing trend are analyzed. On this basis, Blockchain Technology (BCT) is employed to quantify the indirect CDEs of power enterprises’ energy consumption. A comprehensive analysis is made of the changing trend and circulation of the total CF of power enterprises based on the direct and indirect CDEs. The data show that the proportion of direct and indirect CDEs in total CF gradually decreases and increases. The results show that the power industry should increase the proportion of clean power in the power industry, control the CDEs from the source, and improve energy utilization to optimize the CF verification.

Carbon footprint: IPCC targets vs. building and social standards

Residential buildings in Russia consume electricity, natural gas, thermal energy for home and water heating, as well as other resources from external suppliers. Such resource consumption results in direct and indirect carbon dioxide emissions that affect the environment. Sustainable development requires the humanity to fit the environmental carrying capacity, and measures against climate change require carbon emissions to reduce. This paper compares carbon footprint reduction target declared by UNCC Conference 2015 and the Paris Agreement, as well as targets offered by other environmental institutions, to carbon emissions arising from existing Russian building standards and social norms application, and actual data. Building standards set the amount of heat per square meter to be delivered to apartment buildings depending on its geographic location, while social norms set a minimal premises area per resident. Also social standards for electricity and natural gas consumption per person exist. Russian Government decrees regulate utility services parameters for apartment and residential buildings, setting hot water temperature and consumption standards per resident and for common household needs. These norms and standards permit the minimal carbon dioxide emissions per year per resident to assess and compare to the carbon footprint reduction target. This paper demonstrates that existing Russian building standards and norms result in carbon emissions per capita significantly exceeding the targets, and recommends standards and norms update to reduce carbon footprint, admitting at the same time that such update is only a step towards the Paris Agreement targets.

Nexus between energy intensity and Environmental Quality SSA: Evidence from GMM

Ecosystem protection is a priority for all nations, particularly developing nations. This state has the most active economic policy debate and development because of its commitment to equitable economic growth, environmental protection, energy conservation, and universal access to adequate energy. This article argues that Sub-Saharan Africa's economic progress and ecological sustainability are intertwined (S.S.A.). The Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) theory proposes a U-shaped relationship between increased per capita income and emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O), agricultural methane (ACH4), and carbon monoxide (C.O.) (CO2). The dynamics between GDP expansion, energy intensity, foreign direct investment, human capital, and carbon dioxide emissions are also investigated. We observed that trade significantly raises emissions of N2O, ACH4, and CO2 for the whole United States and its income categories (Upper-Middle-Income Countries (UMIC), Lower-Middle-Income Countries (LMIC), and Low-Income Countries (LIC)) (L.I.C. ). We believe the EKC demonstrates the feasibility of further emission reductions in the future since economic expansion in SSA nations is uniformly detrimental to the environment. The findings demonstrated the need for energy-efficient and secure industry while revealing the drawbacks of freer local commerce and foreign influence on the economy.

Modelling the Nexus between Financial Development, FDI, and CO2 Emission: Does Institutional Quality Matter?

The present study draws motivation from the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, with a special focus on SDGs 7 and 13, which highlight the need for access to clean and affordable energy in an environment devoid of emissions; it addresses climate change mitigation in the context of Sub-Saharan Africa. To this end, a carbon-income function setting for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is constructed. The dynamic relationship between financial development and climate change is evaluated using three indicators and foreign direct investment and carbon dioxide emissions (CO2), while accounting for regulatory institutional quality using a “generalized method of a moment” estimation technique that addresses both heterogeneous cross-sectional issues. Empirical results obtained showed a positive statistical relationship between economic growth and CO2 emissions in SSA at the <0.01 significance level. This suggests that, in SSA, the economic growth path is pollutant emissions driven. This indicates that SSA is still at the scale phase of her growth trajectory. However, an important finding from the present study is that regulatory institutional indicators, such as political stability, government effectiveness, control of corruption, and voice and accountability, all exert a negative effect on CO2 emissions. This implies that regulatory measures militate against emissions in SSA. Based on the empirical findings of this study, it can be concluded that clean FDI inflows assist in ameliorating emissions. Thus, the need for a paradigm shift to cleaner technologies, such as renewables, that are more eco-friendly, is encouraged in Sub-Saharan Africa, as the current study demonstrates the mitigating role of renewable energy consumption on CO2 emissions. Further policy prescriptions are presented in the concluding section.