Does convergence contribute to reshaping sustainable development policies? Insights from Sub-Saharan Africa. (May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ulucak, Recep; Kassouri, Yacouba; Çağrı İlkay, Salih; Altıntaş, Halil; Garang, Aweng Peter Majok
• Is Part Of: Ecological indicators. Volume 112(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-05
• Subjects: Convergence -- Sustainable development -- Ecological footprint -- Club convergence -- Sub Saharan Africa; Environmental monitoring -- Periodicals; Environmental management -- Periodicals; Environmental impact analysis -- Periodicals; Environmental risk assessment -- Periodicals; Sustainable development -- Periodicals; 333.71405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.106140
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1470-160X

Abstract

Highlights: Investigates environmental convergence for Sub-Saharan Africa. Employs ecological footprint and its sub-components. Conducts club convergence approach. Determines convergent clubs for ecological footprint and its sub-components. Abstract: This study examines environmental convergence in ecological footprint and its sub-components in a region subjected to rapid degradation of environmental conditions and, where environmental conservation significantly remains unpopular in both government policy priorities and academic literature. This is expected to contribute to policy-shaping in the region in terms of sustainable development goals and global climate protocols. To this end, the study employs a sophisticated methodological approach (log t regression) that accounts for slope heterogeneity using a pool of inclusive environmental parameters to test convergence among different sub-components. Results show that ecological footprint and its sub-components do not converge as a whole and several clubs are determined for each sub-component except forest-land and built-up-land footprints. Given the importance of achieving sustainable development goals and struggling with environmental threats collectively, this study highlights the importance of differentiated liabilities for countries.