The Nexus between Environmental Degradation, Income and Energy Consumption in Emerging Countries
Today, especially in developing countries, environmental pollution threatens human life. Environmental quality is one of the most important sources of human welfare. Therefore, it is becoming increasingly important to understand the relationship between environmental degradation, income and energy consumption. The aim of this study is to investigate the nature of relationships among the carbon dioxide emissions, economic growth and energy consumption for emerging economies. For this purpose, Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis have been tested for 10 emerging economies for the years from 1980 to 2010. Data were brought together from the World Bank development indicators database. In order to test of Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis IPS panel unit root, Pedroni panel cointegration and FMOLS estimation methods are used. Results indicate that energy consumption has a positive and significant effect on carbon dioxide emissions. Results indicate that energy consumption has a positive and significant effect on carbon dioxide emissions. The findings also show that per capita GDP follows an inverted U-shape pattern associated with the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis. This situation validates the policies which assert that environmental pollution decreases with income growth.