Achieving carbon neutrality in Africa is possible: the impact of education, employment, and renewable energy consumption on carbon emissions

Abstract

This paper analysed the causal link between education, employment, renewable energy consumption and carbon emissions in Africa, where there is scant evidence. Relying on panel data obtained from the World Development Indicators for thirty-two African countries covering a period of 19 years, and fve panel rigorous regression mod els, we found that renewable energy, investment in education, school enrolment, net national income per capita, and employment had negative and signifcant efects on carbon emission, thus increasing these predictors would result in signifcant reduction in carbon emission in Africa. We identifed a bidirectional causality between carbon emissions and net national income per capita, education expenditure and renewable energy consumption, and car bon emissions and employment. Our fndings suggest that investment in education, renewable energy, and employ ment are relevant in mitigating carbon emissions in Africa. We recommend African governments to invest heavily in education, improve school enrolment, environmental education, renewable energy and employment provision to mitigate carbon emissions.