Sustainable development of West African economies to achieve environmental quality

The deterioration of environmental quality spurred on by rising greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is the main threat to reducing carbon footprint. Africa has recently been identified as having experienced excessive temperatures above pre-industrial standards. Despite its lower GHG emissions, Africa continues to be among the most impacted areas of the world by global warming. However, this research scrutinizes the effect of human capital and trade openness on the ecological footprint (ECF) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions using data from West Africa from 1995 to 2016. The research used dynamic ordinary least squares, fully modified ordinary least squares, and paired Dumitrescu-Hurlin panel causality tests for its assessment. The study's findings are as follows: (1) The study found that human capital and trade openness decrease the ecological footprint in West Africa; (2) globalization reduces CO2 emissions while also increasing the ecological footprint; (3) the analysis reveals that natural resources and the population improve environmental quality in West Africa, while biocapacity reduces the ecological footprint and improves CO2 emissions in the region; and (4) the study revealed the bidirectional causality between biocapacity, the population, and ECF. The study also revealed the bidirectional causality between biocapacity, population, human capital, natural resources, and CO2 emissions, while ecological footprint is unidirectionally causally related to globalization, human capital, and trade capital. Unidirectional causality runs from the ecological footprint, globalization, and trade openness to CO2 emissions. To ensure their countries have a long-term future, policymakers in West Africa should take action to limit overexploitation of natural resources and encourage people to live more sustainably. The study suggested that West African countries adopt green growth policies and improve technology to help their economies and the environment.

Automated summary

Africa, despite its lower greenhouse gas emissions, is heavily impacted by global warming. This study examines the impact of human capital and trade openness on the ecological footprint and CO2 emissions in West Africa. The findings show that human capital and trade openness decrease the ecological footprint, while globalization reduces CO2 emissions but increases the ecological footprint. The analysis also reveals the importance of natural resources and population in improving environmental quality, as well as the role of biocapacity in reducing the ecological footprint and improving CO2 emissions. The study suggests adopting green growth policies and improving technology to promote sustainable development in West Africa.