Description
Carbon emissions are a growing environmental concern in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) as countries pursue economic growth, industrialization and increased energy access. Although the region’s emissions remain relatively low, rising energy demand, continued dependence on fossil fuels and expanding economic activity raise concerns about the sustainability of its development path. The increasing deployment of renewable energy presents an opportunity to decouple economic growth from carbon emissions, but the extent to which renewable energy transition moderates the growth-emissions relationship remains unclear. The study will examine the effects of renewable energy transition and economic growth on carbon emissions in SSA and determine the moderating effect of renewable energy transition. Specifically, it will assess the effects of renewable energy transition and economic growth on carbon emissions and establish whether renewable energy transition moderates the growth-emissions relationship. The study will be guided by the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis, endogenous growth theory and ecological modernization theory. It will adopt explanatory and longitudinal research designs using annual panel data for SSA countries from 2000 to 2023. Secondary data will be sourced from the International Renewable Energy Agency, World Development Indicators and Global Carbon Project. Renewable energy transition will be measured by the renewable share of total installed electricity-generating capacity, carbon emissions by CO2 emissions per capita, and economic growth by real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita. Data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and dynamic panel generalized method of moments estimation, with moderation tested through an interaction term. The findings are expected to inform policies for achieving economic growth alongside a low-carbon energy transition in SSA.
| Title | RENEWABLE ENERGY TRANSITION, ECONOMIC GROWTH AND CARBON EMISSIONS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA |
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