Economic Growth and Air Pollution in Côte d'Ivoire

This work seeks to empirically determine the relationship between economic growth and environmental degradation in Côte d'Ivoire. The study is based on a Vector Error Correction Model (VECM), using data in years from 1971 to 2012. The results show that economic growth induces environmental degradation in Côte d'Ivoire. In the long run, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), population growth and arable land area positively influence CO2 emissions. The share of agricultural value added in GDP to CO2 emissions is the most important. In other words, the growth-environmental degradation relationship is linear and positive in Côte d'Ivoire, as in the WAEMU region. Thus, for profitable growth with less environmental pollution, the study suggests the following measures: first, controlling energy consumption; second, modernizing agriculture with the adoption of intelligent agriculture; and third, raising the awareness of the population in order to adopt eco-citizen behavior.