Title: Deciphering the interconnections: a panel vector autoregressive analysis of economic growth, renewable energy use, trade openness and CO₂ emissions in OECD countries

Authors: Mohd Afjal; Chitra Devi

Addresses: VIT Business School, VIT Vellore, Vellore, India ' VIT Business School, Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai, India

Abstract: This study investigates the impact of economic growth, renewable energy, and trade openness on CO₂ emissions in OECD countries from 1995 to 2020, categorised by GDP growth into low (>1%), moderate (1%-3%), and high (>3%). Using panel vector autoregression models, it finds an inverse relationship between GDP and CO₂ emissions in low-growth economies, and a positive correlation in moderate and high-growth economies. Renewable energy positively impacts CO₂ emissions in moderate and high-growth economies but reduces them in low-growth contexts. The Hausmann test supports using a fixed effect model, and the Granger causality test reveals a unidirectional relationship from GDP and renewable energy to CO₂ emissions across all growth levels. These discoveries highlight the connection between economic growth and carbon emissions, thus stressing the necessity for nations with advanced economic statuses to implement measures aimed at curbing carbon emissions through the promotion of renewable energy sources.

Keywords: economic growth; renewable energy consumption; trade openness; carbon dioxide emissions; OECD countries.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGE.2024.139283

International Journal of Green Economics, 2024 Vol.18 No.2, pp.175 - 199

Received: 24 Apr 2023
Accepted: 31 Oct 2023
Published online: 28 Jun 2024 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article