Pakistan’s Green Puzzle: How Income, Clean Energy, and People Affect the Environment, and the Role of Education in Shaping a Greener Future

Abstract

The current paper analyzes the impact of GDP per capita, clean energy, total populations, and the educated population on ecological footprints. This Pakistani study utilizes time-series data from 1995-2020. Short-run findings from the ARDL bounds testing approach suggest that increasing per capita income raises ecological footprints, while in the long run, it decreases the same. Short-run and long-run coefficients are 0.766 and -0.909 respectively, indicating a one-unit increase in short-run income intensifies ecological footprints by 0.766 units, but in the long run, increasing per capita real GDP alleviates the pressure on natural capital by -0.909 units. Renewable energy use in Pakistan proves environmentally favorable, decreasing ecological footprints by -1.516 in the short run and -1.878 units in the long run. Conversely, a 1-unit rise in total population increases ecological footprints by 16.415 units in the short run and 0.479 units in the long run, suggesting a detrimental impact. Education emerges as a crucial factor, with an educated population reducing ecological footprints by -0.011 units in the short run and -0.004 units in the long run. The study recommends that Pakistan consider importing renewable energy technology and emphasizes the importance of educating populations about environmental concerns to address the risk of environmental collapse.