Sustainable development or Environmental Kuznets Curve model: Which route for Africa?

Abstract

The Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) proposes uncontrolled pollution during initial development stage of a nation and then a gradual shift to environmental protection and remediation as income (GDP) improves, a developmental route that was used by a few countries. This theory, however, is marred with a lot of conceptual and ecological errors. Importantly, there is little evidence of an EKC pathway, mainly because the "statistical analysis on which the EKC is based is not robust" (Stern in International society for ecological economics internet encyclopaedia of ecological economics the Environmental Kuznets Curve, 2003). This study investigates through questionnaire survey, the opinions of young African students studying in China, on the issue of development with environmental pollution and degradation. Results show that 72% of respondents agreed to development with pollution citing EKC, an outcome that indicates the possible developmental route likely to be followed by majority of Africa. The study concluded that environmental protection discussions should not be done at economic level but at ethical level to save human life and conserve biodiversity. The study recommends that all nations, regardless of level of economic development, be encouraged to mainstream the AICHI Biodiversity Targets in their national (local) developmental plans to ensure sustainable development agenda fulfilment. Also, as a precautionary measure, nations should embrace the "polluter-stopspolluting" against the usual "polluter-pays-principle".

Intragenerational Dynamics in the Indonesian Oil Palm Growth Zone: The Resolution between Circular Dimensions and Human Capital

“…The Environmental Kuznets Curve theory highlights several interconnecting indicators that influence the future of human welfare, aiming to effectively manage environmental quality and mitigate pollution concentrations [25]. The Kuznets hypothesis model states that prolonged degradation reflects the declining level of human ethics in exploiting the environment by utilising the biomass test obtained from industrial combustion residues as a sustainable adoption of externalities [26].…”

Unveiling the complex web: exploring the international fossil fuel trade network and its impact on CO2 emissions and trade patterns

“…fossil fuel trade network trade typically increases carbon emissions, with developed countries often facing lower environmental costs compared to less developed ones (Zhong et al, 2021;Wang et al, 2022). Some researchers attribute environmental degradation primarily to economic expansion and urbanization (Kasman and Duman, 2015;Liu and Bae, 2018;Gara, 2019), while others focus on industrial growth and expansion (Wang and Wei, 2020;Majeed et al, 2021;Azam et al, 2022). Further studies by Antweiler et al (2001), Zhang et al (2020) and Bibi and Jamil (2024) explore how trade openness affects environmental quality through scale, technique and composition effects, noting different impacts in developed versus developing countries.…”

“…, 2022). Some researchers attribute environmental degradation primarily to economic expansion and urbanization (Kasman and Duman, 2015; Liu and Bae, 2018; Gara, 2019), while others focus on industrial growth and expansion (Wang and Wei, 2020; Majeed et al. , 2021; Azam et al.…”

Pope Francis vs. Patriarch Bartholomew to Achieve Global Environmental Sustainability: Theoretical Insights Supported by Empirical Results

“…However, solidarity (a virtue that is grounded on mutual obligation and shared effort to social cohesion, and manifested in sharing spiritual and material goods in the Catechism of the Catholic Church 1949) is difficult to apply to future generations (i.e., unspecified representative individuals), and it is impossible to measure (i.e., an attitude or virtue rather than a specified behavior or outcome), whereas equity, in its alternative definitions and units, can be measured to test for the reliability of the advocated and implemented policies [47]. Moreover, sentences such as §50 and §211 by Pope Francis suggest an analysis based on social cohesion and responsibility [48], in contrast with a tight policy to achieve sustainability, such as the "polluter-pays" or the "polluter-stops-polluting" principles, that are based on rights and duties [49]. Finally, statements such as §92 and §130 by Pope Francis about an individual animal's dignity are not required to achieve global sustainability.…”