What precipitates growth in CO2 emissions?: New evidence from a panel of economic community of West African states (ECOWAS)

Purpose The degradation of the natural habitat at the expense of economic development is a harmful growth that warrants environmental policy actions. For instance, the economic impacts of environmental pollution are quite visible in developed and developing economies, where human health is compromised by rapid economic growth and energy induced pollution. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of CO2 emissions on economic development. Design/methodology/approach This paper investigates the correlation between pollutant emissions and key economic variables within the economic community of West African states (ECOWAS) region by applying fixed effects model to unbalanced time-series panel data for the period 1980-2014. This paper examines the full ECOWAS panel and sub-panels with export-and-import-dependent countries. Findings The authors argue that energy consumption (EC) and real output exert causal influences on CO2 emissions for the full ECOWAS panel and the sub-panels with export-and-import-dependent countries. Practical implications The results imply that increase in EC is the main factor that promotes economic growth in the region. Additionally, growth in EC and real output stimulates CO2 emissions growth. Originality/value Therefore, it is argued that technological innovations that increase energy efficiency through new carbon-free technologies that minimize CO2 emissions growth without impairing economic growth and development must be introduced in the region.