Assessing the Relationship between Economic Growth and Emissions Levels in South Africa between 1994 and 2019

Lerato Shikwambana, Paidamwoyo Mhangara and Mahlatse Kganyago
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Lerato Shikwambana: Earth Observation Directorate, South African National Space Agency, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
Paidamwoyo Mhangara: School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa
Mahlatse Kganyago: Earth Observation Directorate, South African National Space Agency, Pretoria 0001, South Africa

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 5, 1-15

Abstract: The objective of this study is to establish whether there is any relationship between economic growth and emission levels for pollutants (namely carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), black carbon (BC), sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), and carbon monoxide (CO)) in South Africa, for the period from 1994 to 2019. Data from the world bank, namely gross domestic product (GDP) and CO 2 emissions, were used. BC, SO 2 , and CO data were obtained from Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, Version 2 (MERRA-2). The linear correlation coefficient and the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis test were used to determine the relationships. The sequential Mann–Kendall (SQMK) test was further used to study the trends. A correlation coefficient of 0.84, which indicates a strong positive linear correlation, between GDP and CO 2 emission was observed. However, the relationship between GDP and CO concentration showed a correlation coefficient of −0.05, indicating no linear relationship between the two variables. The EKC hypothesis showed an N-shape for SO 2 and CO. Overall, the results of this study indicate that emissions levels are generally correlated with economic growth. Therefore, a stringent regulatory system is needed to curtail the high emissions levels observed in this study, given the devastating impacts of global warming already ravaging the world.

Keywords: GDP; sulfur dioxide; black carbon; EKC hypothesis; MERRA-2; sequential Mann–Kendall (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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