Urbanization and carbon dioxide (CO2) emission nexus in the CEMAC countries
Management of Environmental Quality
ISSN: 1477-7835
Article publication date: 11 January 2022
Issue publication date: 10 March 2022
Abstract
Purpose
This study investigates the relationship between urbanization and carbon dioxide emission in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community from 1990 to 2019. The literature reveals that the relationship between urbanization and carbon dioxide emissions is still debatable and the existing findings are inconclusive.
Design/methodology/approach
Carbon dioxide is the regressand; while, urbanization, gross domestic product (GDP) and financial development (FD), rule of law (ROL) and government effectiveness (GEF) are the regressors. Johansen Fisher and Kao residual co-integration tests alongside the fully modified and dynamic ordinary least squares.
Findings
The results show a significant positive relationship between urbanization and carbon dioxide emissions. The causality tests results show that carbon dioxide granger causes urbanization, GDP and FD unit directionally.
Research limitations/implications
The countries' governments should effectively improve their legal systems to regulate carbon dioxide emissions. Urbanization laws should be implemented to limit urbanization environmental deteriorating effects on carbon dioxide emissions. This occurs as the countries practiced unregulated urbanization which increases population's environmental impacts. The study recommends sustainable green urbanization policies for environmental conservation through tree planting and horticulture. Balance development in urban and rural areas is vital to decongest the urban cities' pressure in the states. The governments should motivate the private sector with rural investments captivating policies to limit rural urban migration.
Originality/value
The findings contribute value by supporting a positive link between urbanization and carbon dioxide emissions in the CEMAC zone. The causality tests findings confirm the view that carbon dioxide granger causes urbanization, GDP and FD unit directionally. This value addition is essential to the governments and policy makers to mitigate urbanization and carbon dioxide emissions in the CEMAC region.
Keywords
Citation
Ngong, C.A., Bih, D., Onyejiaku, C. and Onwumere, J.U.J. (2022), "Urbanization and carbon dioxide (CO2) emission nexus in the CEMAC countries", Management of Environmental Quality, Vol. 33 No. 3, pp. 657-673. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-04-2021-0070
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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