Environmental Quality in Sub-Saharan African Countries: The Role of Clean Energy, Trade Openness and Population Density

Abstract

This study investigated the individual and combined effects of clean energy, trade openness and population density on the sustainability of natural systems in Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries over the reference interval from 2000 to 2023 using the PCSE, FGLS and PARDL techniques. Findings revealed that access to sustainable clean fuel and technology enhances environmental quality and promotes renewable energy consumption, which was found to adversely affect environmental quality but was not significant. Similarly, gross domestic product per capital positively affected environmental quality, while trade openness and population had adverse effect on environmental quality. In examining the combined effects, access to clean energy when interacted with population density, renewable energy, and trade openness was found to negatively affect ecological performance, while renewable energy and trade openness had a positive effect on environmental quality. Results for the immediate and sustained effect showed that only renewable energy consumption had a negative and notable influence on environmental quality while in the long run, access to clean fuel and technology, gross domestic product per capita, and foreign direct investment were positively related to environmental quality. However, renewable energy and energy intensity had a reducing effect on environmental quality in Sub-Saharan African countries. Hence, to enhance environmental quality and promote sustainability, policymakers in SSA countries should prioritise expanding clean energy and invest in the renewable energy network and promote the implementation of modern technologies to improve energy efficiency.