Work

An empirical insight into the validity of the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis in the SADC region

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Climate change has resulted in global warming (CO 2 ) extremes, leading to academic debates on how climate change is impacting economic growth. Additionally, how do regulatory environments address climate change issues from a developing country perspective? The novelty of the study stems from a contribution to the stock of empirical evidence on the SADC region (1990–2023), employing panel data and a robust econometric strategy that accounts for cross-sectional dependence, slope heterogeneity, and non-stationarity. The analysis utilizes the CS-ARDL and CCEMG estimators on the impact of climate change on economic growth in the short-term and long-term. The findings provide partial support for the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis. Although GDP and its squared term were not statistically significant across models, the expected inverted U-shaped relationship emerged in some specifications, indicating that environmental degradation initially increases with economic growth but may decline at higher income levels.

Source: Frontiers in Environmental Economics

DOI: 10.3389/frevc.2025.1708624

Authors: Ngonidzashe Chiranga, Stephen Zhanje, Samuel Chingoiro

Institutions: Tshwane University of Technology, University of Limpopo, Botho University

Language: English

Topic: Energy, Environment, Economic Growth

Subfield: Economics and Econometrics

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Climate action, Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,418