Abstract
This study investigates the influence of economic policy uncertainty on climate change in selected African countries within asymmetric settings. Although previous research has examined the impact of various economic factors on climate change, the asymmetric effects of economic policy uncertainty have not been thoroughly explored, particularly in African countries. We analyze annual data spanning from 1980 to 2017 by utilizing three models: Panel Pooled Mean Group-Autoregressive distributed lag model (ARDL-PMG), Panel Pooled Mean Group-non‐linear autoregressive distributed lag model (NARDL-PMG), and Dumitrescu-Hurlin asymmetric causality tests. According to the results of ARDL-PMG estimation, economic policy uncertainty has a detrimental impact on climate change in the long run. However, the NARDL-PMG estimation suggests that a positive shock in economic policy uncertainty negatively affects long-term climate change mitigation. However, a negative shock has a beneficial effect on climate change in the long term. In African nations, positive and negative changes in economic policy uncertainty failed to generate any significant climate change effects in the short run. The results also reveal that both positive and negative shocks in economic policy may cause climate change in a one-way direction. Based on the findings of our study, we recommend that African policymakers implement programs aimed at reducing economic policy uncertainties to help mitigate the effects of climate change.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the Scientific Research Deanship at the University of Majmaah, Saudi Arabia, for supporting this work under project number (…/2023).
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This research has been funded by the Scientific Research Deanship at the University of Majmaah, Saudi Arabia, through project number (…/2023).
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Riadh brini: Formulated the paper's conceptual framework; conducted comprehensive research and procured necessary resources; executed the research methodology with precision; applied formal data analysis techniques; authored the complete paper; meticulously reviewed and performed editing for refinement.
Hassen Toumi: Formulated the paper's conceptual framework; conducted comprehensive research and procured necessary resources; executed the research methodology with precision; applied formal data analysis techniques; authored the complete paper; meticulously reviewed and performed editing for refinement.
Olfa Chaouech: Formulated the paper's conceptual framework; conducted comprehensive research and procured necessary resources; executed the research methodology with precision; applied formal data analysis techniques; authored the complete paper; meticulously reviewed and performed editing for refinement.
Saïd Toumi: Formulated the paper's conceptual framework; conducted comprehensive research and procured necessary resources; executed the research methodology with precision; applied formal data analysis techniques; authored the complete paper; meticulously reviewed and performed editing for refinement.
Abdullah Abdulmohsen Alfalih: Formulated the paper's conceptual framework; conducted comprehensive research and procured necessary resources; executed the research methodology precisely; applied formal data analysis techniques; authored the complete paper; meticulously reviewed and performed editing for refinement.
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Brini, R., Toumi, H., Chaouech, O. et al. Unveiling asymmetry impacts of economic policy uncertainty on climate change: fresh insights into African Countries. Environ Sci Pollut Res 31, 34647–34660 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-33516-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-33516-2