It is generally acknowledged that economic growth is a prime objective for developing countries since it is considered a vital asset for socio-economic development and improved living conditions of the population. However, economic growth often goes along with an increase in CO₂ emissions, primarily due to the combustion of fossil fuel like coal, oil, and natural gas for example, which are widely used to power industries, transportation, and electricity generation [1].

The global warming caused by accumulation of Greenhouse gases (GHGs), the main one being the carbon dioxide (CO₂), is the primary threat to the humanity and could cost the global economy up to $550 billion (Stern, 2006 quoted by [2]), if governments do not take drastic measures. Climate experts now agree that Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) emissions due to all human activities, in particular the increasing use of fossil fuels, represent a growing and serious risk to the environment and the society.

As stated by literature, there are different approaches and hypotheses regarding the relationship between economic growth and environment pollution. On the one hand, it is found that the state of the environment quality is influenced by per capital income, which generates changes in the environmental policies, and supports the hypothesis showing that the more per capital income is high the more it leads to better environmental quality. On the other hand, the more per capital income is high the more it leads to greater environmental degradation [3].

According to the environmental curve hypothesis of Kuenets (ECK), economic growth meets this condition. Indeed, the ECK suggests that there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between environmental degradation and per capital income [4]. Then, beyond a certain level of per capital income, economic growth will result in improving the environment [1].

For authors like [5] and [6], environmental degradation is primary due to economic activity (production and consumption), which leads to the depletion of natural resources, the accumulation of waste, and the concentration of pollutants that exceed the biosphere’s capacity. On the other side, [7] demonstrates a strong correlation between income and environmental protection measures. He shows that in the long-term, economic growth is the best way to guarantee improvement in environment quality. [8] also highlights the importance of environmental factors such as energy efficiency and the adoption of appropriate technologies to control the relationship between economic growth and CO₂ emissions in developing countries? This aspect is particularly relevant for the EAC countries, which must meet the challenges of reconciling their objectives for economic development with environmental sustainability goals.

The relationship between economic growth and carbon dioxide CO₂ emissions is a major concern topic in the context of sustainable development. According to [9], economic activities like industrialization and energy consumption are often linked with increased CO₂ emissions, which can have negative impacts on the environment.

In the context of the East African Community (EAC), an information gap persists regarding the conceptual basis of the sustainability of natural capital versus economic capital. This gap is extended by a lack of understanding of the theoretical foundations of the relationship between the dynamics of economic growth and the quality of landscape environment, particularly in terms of CO₂ emission levels, in order to foster economic emergence in developing countries. Consequently, this complex relationship deserves a particular attention as the region is experiencing rapid economic growth while being vulnerable to the impacts of climate change [10].

For that reason, in the light of concerns related to the framework of economic growth and the fact that the growth of many national economies cannot be limited by an increase in greenhouse gas emissions, we are studying a vital issue related to climate change, namely the relationship between economic growth and the CO₂ emissions in the EAC countries.

From this scientific perspective, the main question that we are led to ask is: What is the co-integration relationship between economic growth and CO₂ emissions in the East African Community (EAC)?

The aim is therefore to deepen the understanding of the conceptual basis of sustainability and to analyze, using the autoregressive model with staggered lags, the theoretical foundations pf the relationship between economic growth and quality of environmental in East Africa.

More specifically, this analytical study aims to:

To explore synthetically the theoretical foundations of the sustainability of natural and economic capital in developing countries;To develop a conceptual framework for analyzing the relationship between economic growth and CO₂ emission levels based on economic and environmental variables choice;To measure, using an autoregressive model with staggered lags, the increase in the production of goods and services in EAC economies in relation to the dynamic of their CO₂ emissions.

The methodology adopted for addressing our problem is the Autoregressive Distributed lag (ARDL) model, developed by [11] and enhanced by [12]. Several factors motivated the choice of this model. First, this method is more suitable for small sample sizes [12], which is the case for this analysis. Second, this test can be used in case of non-stationary time series without the constraint of a consistent integration order, unlike other tests. Furthermore, this model allows addressing simultaneously the short-term effect and the long-term dynamics. The ARDL model is particularly useful in the context of time series, where it helps to understand how changes in one variable influence another over different periods.

If we consider the dependent variable “Y_t” and the independent variable “X_t”, we will have:

Autoregressive models (AR): These are dynamic models where, among the explanatory variables (X_t), we find the lagged dependent variable (its past values). In general, they are presented as follows (implicit form):

Distributed Lag (DL) models: these are dynamic models whose explanatory variables are: X_t and its past or lag values. In general, their form is:

The word (staggered lags) shows that short-term effects of X_t on Y_t are different from the long-term effects. From one tie point to another, the scale of Y_t’s response to the change in X_t differs.

Autoregressive models with staggered lags (ARDL): these models combine the characteristics of two previous models. They include, among the explanatory variables (X_t), the lagged dependent variable ( Y t − p ) and the past values of the independent variable (X_t-). They have the following general form:

And, it is important to keep remember that the variables considered in these models must be stationary to avoid spurious regressions. In its general (explicit) form, an ARDL model is written as follows:

With ε𝑡~ (0, σ): error term; “b₀” represents the short-term effect of X_t on Y_t. if we consider the following long-term or equilibrium relationship, “ Y t = k + ∅ X t + u ”, we can calculate the long-term effect of on (i.e. “ ∅ ”) as follows:

As with for any dynamic model, the information criteria (AIC, SIC et HQ) will be used to determine the optimal lag (p* or q*). An optimal lag is one whose estimated model provides the minimum value of one of the stated criteria: the Akaike (AIC) lag, the Schwarz (SIC) lag, and the Hannan and Quinn (HQ) lag. Their values are calculated as follows:

With: ∑ = variance-covariance matrix of the estimated residuals; T = number of observations; p = lag of the estimated model; and n = number of regressors.

In this section, we first display the variable graphical analysis of the study, followed by the descriptive statistics analysis and the correlation test. Next, the stationarity of the series is validated before moving consecutively to the estimate and accuracy of the model, correlation and causality, short-term effects, and long-term dynamics. Finally, recommendations are provided.

Economicandenvironmentalinterpretation

To interpret the results, it is first necessary to refer to the co-integration tests that are performed as part of the analysis. Co-integration tests are used to determine whether there is a long-term relationship between economic growth and CO₂ emissions, that is, whether these two variables move jointly over an extended period. The tests results can indicate either a positive co-integration (the two variables are positively related) or a negative co-integration (the two variables are negatively related).

In case of positive co-integration, it means economic growth is associated with an increase in CO₂ emissions. This result is consistent with economic theories claiming that economic growth is often followed by increase in energy consumption and, as a result, carbon dioxide emissions. This interpretation underscores the importance of taking measures to reduce CO₂ emissions while promoting at the same time economic growth in order to join development with environment protection.

On the other hand, if tests reveal negative co-integration, this shows that there is an opposite relationship between economic growth and CO₂ emissions. In this case, economic growth is related to decrease in CO₂ emissions. This scenario is less common but it may reflect a trend towards a greener economy, characterized by more the use of more efficient resources, having recourse to renewable energy, and the use of sustainable production and consumption models. This interpretation suggests that economic growth can well match with CO₂ emissions reduction.

The results of this analysis show that there is a long-term inverted U-shaped relationship between GDP and CO₂ emissions. This means the CO₂ emissions increase as GDP increase until the inflection point where the CO₂ emissions gradually decrease.

Multivariatelong-termeffectsofgrowthonCO₂emissions

The results of the empirical analysis suggest an inverted U-shaped relationship between GDP and CO₂ emissions. That is, they agree with the environmental Kuzenets curve (EKC) hypothesis. Depending on this hypothesis, CO₂ emissions increase with economic growth until a certain point after which they decrease as incomes continue to increase. This observation agrees with the studies by [13] and [14] who also found an inverted U-shaped relationship between economic growth and environmental degradation. However, it is important to mention that the validity of CEK in EAC countries is contextual and may vary depending on each country’s economic policies, development level, and economic structure.

The results demonstrate noteworthy differences between the short-term and the long-term effects of economic growth on CO₂ emissions. In the short-term, an increase in GDP is related to a reduction of CO₂ emissions in some countries like DRC. This can be ascribed to investments in suitable technologies or transition to less polluting energy sources. Nevertheless, in the long-term, economic growth positively correlates with CO₂ emissions, showing that continued growth can lead to increased emissions if it remains based on intensive carbon activities. These results are consistent with [1] who emphasizes that economic growth effect on the environment depends on factors like energy efficiency, environmental policies, and the typesetting of the economic sector.

The study reveals that energy consumption and industrial added value are important determinants of CO₂ emissions. Energy consumption tends to reduce emissions in almost all the countries studied with exception of Kenya. This suggests that more efficient energy is used in these countries. This contrasts with the findings of [15] who found that energy consumption was generally associated with an increase in CO₂ emissions. The development level and the energy mix of the EAC countries where the use of renewable energies is widespread can explain the difference. However, the industrial added value is linked to an increase in CO₂ emissions in the short-term. It highlights the need to promote more sustainable industrial practices and uphold the adoption of appropriate technologies.

The results also show that population growth, population density, forest area, and the expansion of agricultural areas have complex effects CO₂ emissions. Population growth is always associated with increased energy demand, leading to higher emissions. Nevertheless, long-term effects show a negative relationship between these variables and CO₂ emissions; suggesting that factors like improved agricultural practices, energy efficiency, and forest protection play a role in reducing emissions. This agrees with the work of [16] and [17] which emphasize the importance of sustainable agricultural practices and land management to mitigate climate change.

Politicalandenvironmentalimplications.

The results of this study call for an in-depth examination of how EAC countries can reconcile economic growth with CO₂ emissions decrease. The findings suggest that continued economic growth in the region can lead to increased emissions unless measures are taken to improve energy efficiency, promote renewable energy, and encourage sustainable agricultural and industrial practices. This aligns with the conclusions of ecological upgrading theory and [18] which states that strict environmental policies and technological innovation can enable economic growth while protecting the environment.

In conclusion, this study underscores the importance of implementing sustainable development policies in EAC countries. Government is encouraged to invest in suitable technologies, promote sustainable agricultural practices, and strengthen environmental policies in order to achieve a balance between economic development and environmental protection. It is also fundamental to adopt an integrated regional approach to enable the sharing of best practices and the coordination of efforts to mitigate CO₂ emissions.

This study analyzed the complex relationship between economic growth and CO₂ emissions in East African Community (EAC) countries for the period between 1992 and 2020. Using a ARDL model, we captured short-term and long-term dynamics to understand how GDP growth, energy consumption, industrialization, and other factors influence CO₂ emissions. Results highlight an inverted U-shaped relationship, suggesting that emissions increase with economic growth up to a certain point. Then,

In the short-term, GDP growth in some countries helps reduce emissions, especially in DRC, while energy consumption has a variable impact depending on national contexts. However, in the long-term, continued GDP growth correlates with increased CO₂ emissions, illustrating the challenge facing the EAC countries in reconciling development.

These findings highlight the importance of sustainable development policies in determining economic growth, mainly in reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Governments in the region are encouraged to invest in proper technologies, promote sustainable agriculture and industrial practices, and strengthen environmental regulations. Such measures are likely to enable a transition to a less polluting growth model that is more resilient to climate challenges.

For future research, it would be relevant to include analyses of other environmental impacts and to consider specific economic sectors in to understand better this relationship and guide appropriate public policies. Ultimately, this study contributes to global efforts to limit global warming while meeting development needs.