This study investigates the nexus between renewable energy consumption and environmental quality in Nigeria, accounting for the role of financial development, and reexamines the validity of the environmental Kuznet curve (EKC) hypothesis for Nigeria covering the period 1990 to 2016. To cover financial development more adequately, the current study uses the broad-based financial development index constructed by the International Monetary Fund. The study employs second generation econometric approaches of Lee and Strazicich, and Bayer and Hanck combined cointegration tests to check for stationarity and cointegration among the variables, and then applies autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) and vector error correction model (VECM) Granger causality tests to explore the effect and causal relationship respectively. The results divulge that renewable energy consumption improves environmental quality, while financial development hurts the environment. Further, the results validate an inverted U-shaped association between economic growth and environmental degradation in Nigeria. The VECM Granger causality results indicate a long-run effect of the independent variables on CO 2 emission, while the short-run causality reveals a mixture of unidirectional and bidirectional causality among the variables. This study therefore recommends that policy makers consider the important roles of renewable energy and financial development in reforming energy policies to achieve environmental sustainability. K E Y W O R D S environmental quality, financial development, renewable Energy 1 | INTRODUCTION Environmental concerns have become prominent among economists and environmental experts in both developed and developing countries. These concerns which center on environmental sustainability are brought about by both natural factors and human (anthropogenic) activities of economic expansion. The prevailing global expert opinion is that expansion in economic activities is largely dependent on energy, given its central role in facilitating

The study investigates the effect of stock market volatility on economic growth in Nigeria, accounting for the moderating role globalization (economic, social and political globalization) from 1981 to 2018. Applying the recently developed unit root with structural breaks by Lee and Strazicich test, the Bayer–Hancks and Johansen cointegration tests, the results show that all the variables (real gross domestic product, stock market returns and globalization index) are integrated of order one, and are also cointegrated, suggesting evidence of long‐run relationship. Further, the results of the GARCH(1,1) model indicate that the effect of shocks to SMR volatility are very likely to be permanent than temporary. Regarding the nexus between stock market return and economic growth, the study reveals a positive, inelastic but statistically insignificant effect of stock market returns on economic growth in Nigeria. Also, globalization has a positive, elastic and statistically significant effect on economic growth in Nigeria. The study therefore, recommends collaborations on policy measures that would stabilize and reposition the stock market to continue playing its critical role of galvanizing funds for investment and stimulating economic growth and as well strengthens globalization related policies to achieve economic growth.