The green economy in sub-Saharan Africa : An economy - environment decoupling analysis

Abstract

This study seeks to extend the understanding of the concept of decoupling and to check if the concept of green economy is a reality in sub-Saharan Africa. Using data extracted from World Development Indicators of the World Bank (WDI-WB, 2015), we observe that the trends of some variables like the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate, the rate of carbon dioxide (CO2) emission per capita, the rate of deforestation, the volume of exports, and many others. Through an impact analysis approach, we find that there is no decoupling between the level of GDP and the volume of exploitation of resources. However, there is decoupling between the GDP and the level of CO2 emission. The measurement of decoupling using the approach by the outcome of the economic activity reveals positive effects such as an increase in renewable energies in the total energy production, the improvement of forest areas and even the access to water from improved sources. Beyond this, a better understanding of the economy-environment relationship in sub-Saharan Africa necessarily passes through the development of «green jobs», eco-activities and their inclusion in regular statistical databases.