Environmental Sustainability In Sub-Saharan Africa Research Articles

Why Small-Scale Circular Agriculture Is Central to Food Security and Environmental Sustainability in Sub-Saharan Africa? The Case of Ghana

Why Small-Scale Circular Agriculture Is Central to Food Security and Environmental Sustainability in Sub-Saharan Africa? The Case of Ghana

Economic Growth, Globalization, and Governance as Determinants of Environmental Quality in Sub-Saharan Africa

Even though Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is experiencing unsustainable environmental degradation just like the rest of the world, most environmental health studies have focused mainly on the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries and other emerging markets. Unimpeded environmental degradation portends many environmental problems with enormous economic and social costs. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore the impact of socio-economic, global, and governance factors on environmental sustainability in SSA. Understanding the interaction of these factors will be of immense assistance to policymakers and other officials charged with mitigating environmental degradation in SSA. Utilizing data from 42 countries in SSA covering 1970 - 2018, our empirical estimations using the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) technique revealed that the primary determinant of environmental performance in SSA is the level of economic activities. The results show a statistically significant positive relationship between economic activities (GDP) and environmental performance. This result does not support the existence of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) in SSA. Surprisingly, the level of public debt had a statistically significant positive impact on environmental performance. The governance variables signifying the impact of government showed mixed results as political stability, control of corruption, and regulatory quality were not statistically significant, whereas the rule of law, government effectiveness, and institutional strength showed a statistically significant positive impact on environmental performance. Trade openness and population density did not have any statistically significant impact on environmental performance. Mitigating environmental degradation in SSA requires policies that promote income growth and debt forgiveness.

Thresholds of external flows in financial development for environmental sustainability in sub-Saharan Africa

PurposeThe study aims to complement extant literature by assessing linkages between financial development, external flows and CO2 emissions in 27 sub-Saharan African countries for the period 2002 to 2018.Design/methodology/approachThe empirical evidence is based on interactive quantile regressions and external flows consist of remittances, foreign aid, trade openness and foreign investment.FindingsThe findings show minimum levels of external flows that should be reached in order for the interaction between external flows and financial development to promote environmental sustainability in terms of reducing CO2 emissions. The minimum thresholds are critical levels of external flows that should be reached before financial development promotes environmental sustainability.Research limitations/implicationsPolicy implications – The disclosed external flow (i.e. FDI, foreign aid, trade and remittances) thresholds are actionable policy thresholds that the government can act upon in order to influence environmental sustainability by means of financial development. Theoretical implications – The findings below the external flow thresholds are consistent with the dependency theory in that external flows are harmful to socio-economic progress and environmental sustainability. When external flows are consolidated to the established critical masses or thresholds in the long run, the corresponding findings are in line with the extant neoclassical and endogenous growth theories, not least, because in the long run, external flows are associated with technological progress and adoption of stronger environmental legislation at the domestic level which are worthwhile in promoting environmental performance.Practical implicationsTo reach the minimum trade and FDI levels that are worthwhile for the promotion of environmental sustainability, corporations should set targets on exports and imports as well as foreign investment levels that they have to attain in contributing to the national target of external flows needed to reduce CO2 emissions. Such trade and FDI targets should be set in industries of various economic sectors.Originality/valueThe study complements the extant literature by assessing how external flows interact with financial development to influence CO2 emissions.

Strategic green marketing orientation and environmental sustainability in sub-Saharan Africa: Does green absorptive capacity moderate? Evidence from Tanzania

Small and medium-sized enterprises are increasingly promoting environmental sustainability, a trend that has raised environmental awareness and inspired individuals and organizations to work together to create a more sustainable and greener future by implementing environmentally friendly practices. This study examines the influence of strategic green marketing orientation on environmental sustainability. Also, the study examines the moderating effect of green absorptive capacity on the relationship between strategic green marketing orientation and environmental sustainability. We used partial least squares structural equation modelling to test hypotheses with data obtained from 391 manufacturing enterprises in Tanzania via structured questionnaires. Our study's main findings show that strategic green marketing orientation has a significant and positive influence on environmental sustainability, and green absorptive capacity strengthens the positive effect of strategic green marketing orientation on environmental sustainability. Although there is scholarly interest in incorporating environmental considerations into business endeavors, there is little evidence on ways that a strategic green marketing orientation promotes environmental sustainability in a manufacturing context. Thus, our findings add to the literature on understanding environmental sustainability for manufacturing enterprises by revealing the role of strategic green marketing orientation and green absorptive capacity in explaining environmental sustainability. The study suggests that manufacturing enterprises should integrate environmental considerations into their strategic resources and endeavors to improve eco-friendly outcomes.

The role of environmental regulatory quality in the relationship between natural resources and environmental sustainability in sub-Saharan Africa

Natural resources benefit economies through economic growth and development. However, continuing unsustainable exploitation of these resources tend to harm the sustainability of the environment. Therefore, this paper explores the role of environmental regulatory quality (ERQ) in the relationship between natural resources (NR) and environmental sustainability (ES). The study covered 28 sub-Saharan African countries (SSA) from 2005-2017. Regarding the estimations, we utilized cross-sectional dependence, first-and second-generation unit root, and cointegration tests for preliminary checks. Finally, we used the system-GMM estimation for the analysis. We found that environmental regulatory quality improves environmental sustainability in SSA. We also observed that natural resources degrade environmental sustainability. Furthermore, we noticed that natural resources complemented environmental regulatory quality to reduce environmental sustainability in SSA. Therefore, we establish that ERQ in SSA does not complement NR to induce environmental sustainability. Based on the findings, we appeal for effective and rigorous implementation of environmental policies and regulations in SSA.

Natural resource abundance, environmental sustainability, and policies and institutions for environmental sustainability in sub-Saharan Africa

This paper examines the effect of natural resource abundance on environmental sustainability while considering the mediation role of policies and institutions for environmental sustainability (PIES). We used 29 sub-Saharan African countries, further disaggregated into 11 resource-rich and 18 resource-poor countries over the period 2005–2017. We find that natural resource abundance improves environmental sustainability by utilizing the System-Generalized Method of Moments (system-GMM) and Panel-Corrected Standard Error (PCSE). We further find that resource-rich countries deteriorate environmental sustainability more than resource-poor economies in SSA. Lastly, we find PIES improve environmental quality or sustainability. We conclude that SSA's natural resource abundance enhances environmental sustainability if PIES are strengthened. We call for stringent and appropriate environmental policies and measures toward environmental sustainability.

Environmental sustainability in Sub-Saharan Africa: Does information and communication technology (ICT) matter?

Environmental sustainability in Sub-Saharan Africa: Does information and communication technology (ICT) matter?

Clean energy, institutional quality and environmental sustainability in sub-Saharan Africa

This study examines the impact of clean energy and institutional quality on environmental sustainability in Sub-Saharan Africa. System generalized method of moments (GMM) is used as the estimation strategy. A sample of 45 countries is considered from 2008 to 2020. The result reveals a negative and significant relationship between renewable energy consumption and CO2 emissions. This implies that clean energy improves environmental sustainability. Furthermore, the initial result of the link between most indicators of institutional quality and CO2 emissions is not significant. However, the finding of the interaction of renewable energy and institutional quality indicators reveals a positive relationship between institutional quality indicators and CO2 emissions, suggesting that complementing renewable energy with institutional quality will increase CO2 emissions. The implication of this finding is that further strengthening of institutional quality will be required as a useful policy instrument to mitigate long-run environmental degradation in the region

The impact of financial development and foreign direct investment on environmental sustainability in Sub-Saharan Africa: using PMG-ARDL approach

This study is aimed at establishing the impact of foreign direct investment and financial development on carbon dioxide emission and clean energy using 44 countries in sub-Saharan Africa ranging from 1998 to 2017. Employing a second generation unit root test in conjunction with Pooled Mean Group, the study established that financial development have significant positive impact on clean energy consumption in sub-Saharan Africa. This was found to be consistent in both low-income and middle-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Financial development is however found to be significantly negative with carbon dioxide in sub-Saharan Africa and middle-income countries. This relationship is only positive in the low-income countries. Foreign direct investment does not have any significant impact on clean energy consumption in sub-Saharan Africa. A significant impact is noted after the decomposition of the sample into low-income and high-income countries. In low-income countries, foreign direct investment inflows impact positively on clean energy consumption. This relationship is however negative with middle-income countries. The link between foreign direct investment and carbon dioxide is significantly positive in the whole sample and also in low-income countries. These long-run relationships have been confirmed by the causality test.

Thresholds of external flows in financial development for environmental sustainability in sub-Saharan Africa

Thresholds of external flows in financial development for environmental sustainability in sub-Saharan Africa

Environmental Sustainability in Sub-Saharan Africa: the Case of Production and Consumption Activities

Environmental Sustainability in Sub-Saharan Africa: the Case of Production and Consumption Activities

The mobile phone in governance for environmental sustainability in Sub-Saharan Africa

PurposeIn this study, we assess how the mobile phone can be leveraged upon to improve the role of governance in environmental sustainability in 44 Sub-Saharan African countries.Design/methodology/approachThe Generalised Method of Moments is used to establish policy thresholds. A threshold is a critical mass or level of mobile phone penetration at which the net effect of governance on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions changes from positive to negative.FindingsMobile phone penetration thresholds associated with negative conditional effects are: 36 (per 100 people) for political stability/no violence; 130 (per 100 people) for regulation quality; 146.66 (per 100 people) for government effectiveness; 65 (per 100 people) for corruption-control and 130 (per 100 people) for the rule of law. Practical and theoretical implications are discussed.Originality/valueThe study provides thresholds of mobile phone penetration that are critical in complementing governance dynamics to reduce CO2 emissions.

Does gender equality in education matter for environmental sustainability in sub-Saharan Africa?

The present study provides a macro-level framework for gender issues and their link to energy policies and environmental quality, in line with the sustainable development goals (SDG). It examines the relationship between environmental sustainability, gender equality in education, energy consumption, and sub-Saharan Africa's income by using cointegration analysis and autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) method. The study's estimation results are consistent with the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis and policy actions suggested by eco-feminist theories in both the short-run and long-run and show that gender equality in education has positively related to environmental sustainability in sub-Saharan Africa.

Does economic growth, international trade, and urbanization uphold environmental sustainability in sub-Saharan Africa? Insights from quantile and causality procedures.

International trade and urbanization are increasing at an unprecedented rate in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The region has also witnessed a fair share of economic growth, with minimal investment and consumption of renewables. Therefore, this study investigates the influence of economic growth, international trade, and urbanization on CO2 emissions in SSA. The current study enriches the existing literature by employing the panel quantile regression analysis to account for existing levels of CO2 emissions in the region. Empirical findings reveal that GDP increases CO2 emissions across quantiles, especially in countries where the existing level of CO2 emissions is low. International trade improves environmental sustainability in countries where the existing levels of CO2 emissions are at their lowest and highest levels but exacts a reversed impact on CO2 emissions at the median. Further findings suggest that urbanization increases CO2 emissions across the observed quantiles with a more pronounced effect in countries where the existing levels of CO2 emissions are at its lowest level. The study also reveals a bi-directional causality between economic growth, international trade, urbanization, and the emissions of CO2. The limitations of the study and possible direction for future research have been highlighted. Policy directions are discussed.

The Mobile Phone in Governance for Environmental Sustainability in Sub-Saharan Africa

In this study, we assess how the mobile phone can be leveraged upon to improve the role of governance in environmental sustainability in 44 Sub-Saharan African countries. The Generalised Method of Moments is used to establish policy thresholds. A threshold is a critical mass or level of mobile phone penetration at which the net effect of governance on Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions changes from positive to negative. Mobile phone penetration thresholds associated with negative conditional effects are: 36 (per 100 people) for political stability/no violence; 130 (per 100 people) for regulation quality; 146.66 (per 100 people) for government effectiveness; 65 (per 100 people) for corruption-control and 130 (per 100 people) for the rule of law. Practical and theoretical implications are discussed. The study provides thresholds of mobile phone penetration that are critical in complementing governance dynamics to reduce CO2 emissions.

Enhancing governance for environmental sustainability in sub-Saharan Africa

This study assesses whether improving governance standards affects environmental quality in 44 countries in sub-Saharan Africa for the period 2000–2012. The empirical evidence is based on generalized method of moments. Bundled and unbundled governance dynamics are used, notably: (i) political governance (consisting of political stability and “voice and accountability”); (ii) economic governance (entailing government effectiveness and regulation quality), (iii) institutional governance (represented by the rule of law and corruption-control); and (iv) general governance (encompassing political, economic, and institutional governance dynamics). The following hypotheses are tested: (i) Hypothesis 1 ( improving political governance is negatively related to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions); (ii) Hypothesis 2 ( increasing economic governance is negatively related to CO2emissions); and (iii) Hypothesis 3 ( enhancing institutional governance is negatively related to CO2emissions). Results of the tested hypotheses show that the validity of Hypothesis 3 cannot be determined based on the results; Hypothesis 2 is not valid, while Hypothesis 1 is partially not valid. The main policy implication is that governance standards need to be further improved in order for government quality to generate the expected unfavorable effects on CO2emissions.

Improving ICT and renewable energy for environmental sustainability in sub-Saharan Africa

The study investigates the role of information and communication technology (ICT) and renewable energy on environmental sustainability in sub-Saharan Africa. The system generalized method of moments (GMM) was employed to estimate data of 45 sub-Saharan countries that cover the 2008 -2016 period. Result reveals that increasing ICT penetration and renewable energy use reduce CO2 emissions and improves environmental sustainability. Economic growth and population growth also mitigate CO2 emissions while education and trade openness have a neutral impact. These findings imply that increasing penetration of ICT facilities and renewable energy in the region will promote inclusive environmental sustainability. The interactive estimation of ICT variables was further considered to determine net effects and the ICT threshold that is relevant for policy implication.

Impact of clean energy and inclusive development on CO2 emissions in sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract This study examines the impact of clean energy and inclusive development on CO2 emissions using renewable energy and inequality-adjusted human development index as measures of clean energy and inclusive human development respectively. System generalized method of moments (GMM) was used to analyze data for a sample of 42 sub-Saharan countries. The result shows that renewable energy has a significant indirect impact on CO2 emissions. This implies that increasing renewable energy usage will dampen CO2 emissions in the region. On the contrary, the result reveals that inclusive human development has a negative and significant impact on CO2 emissions. This implies that important stakeholder such as the marginalized people are not carried along in the campaign for environmental sustainability. The policy implication of the study is as follows. One, policymakers should incentivize the use of clean energy such as wind, solar, hydropower and geothermal to further reduce CO2 emissions. Two, the contribution of the less-privilege should be encouraged for inclusive environmental sustainability in sub-Saharan Africa.

Renewable Energy, Regulation, Employment and Environmental Sustainability in Sub-Saharan Africa

This paper examines the impact of employment, regulatory quality and urbanization on environmental quality by using renewable energy as a metric of environmental indicator in sub-Saharan Africa. The environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) theory was used as the theoretical framework while the difference Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) was utilised as the estimation technique. 45 sub-Saharan African countries covering the period of 2008 to 2016 were used as the sample size. The result reveals that increase in employment and income is at expense of environmental quality while regulation quality and urbanization increase environmental quality. As such, policymaking in the region should support the development of renewable energy by providing incentives that encourage private sector investment in renewable energy; implement sound policies and regulations that promote private sector employment and smart cities development. Keywords : Renewable energy; environment, regulation, employment, sub-Saharan Africa DOI : 10.7176/DCS/9-7-04 Publication date :July 31 st 2019

Enhancing Governance for Environmental Sustainability in Sub-Saharan Africa

This study assesses whether improving governance standards affects environmental quality in 44 countries in sub-Saharan Africa for the period 2000-2012. The empirical evidence is based on Generalised Method of Moments. Bundled and unbundled governance dynamics are used notably: (i) political governance (consisting of political stability and “voice & accountability”); (ii) economic governance (entailing government effectiveness and regulation quality), (iii) institutional governance (represented by the rule of law and corruption-control) and (iv) general governance (encompassing political, economic and institutional governance dynamics). The following hypotheses are tested: (i) Hypothesis 1 (Improving political governance is negatively related to CO2 emissions); (ii) Hypothesis 2 (Increasing economic governance is negatively related to CO2 emissions) and (iii) Hypothesis 3 (Enhancing institutional governance is negatively related to CO2 emissions. Results of the tested hypotheses show that: the validity of Hypothesis 3 cannot be determined based on the results; Hypothesis 2 is not valid while Hypothesis 1 is partially not valid. The main policy implication is that governance standards need to be further improved in order for government quality to generate the expected unfavorable effects on CO2 emissions.