Assessment Of The Effect Of Economic Growth On Environmental Pollution In West Africa

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of economic growth on environmental degradation in West Africa, assessing the applicability of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis. Using annual panel data from 16 West African nations (1996–2022) and a panel autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach, the study explores both long- and short-term effects. The results support the EKC hypothesis, demonstrating that economic expansion initially worsens environmental pollution by 10.985% but subsequently reduces it by 0.564% after crossing a specific income threshold. Additionally, the informal sector exacerbates the ecological damage linked to formal economic operations, whereas renewable energy adoption substantially mitigates pollution levels. Conversely, urbanization drives environmental degradation due to heightened energy demand and industrial output, leading to increased CO₂ emissions. These findings highlight the importance of implementing sustainable policies that strengthen environmental governance, integrate informal economic activities, and expand renewable energy infrastructure. To achieve enduring development, West African leaders must harmonize economic advancement with ecological preservation, ensuring that growth strategies do not compromise environmental integrity.