Trade Openness and CO_2 Emissions in Morocco: An ARDL Bounds Testing Approach

摘要

This Study investigates the nexus between trade openness, energy consumption, economic growth, population density and Carbone dioxide CO_2 emissions in Morocco C02 during the period 1971-2014. Using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) bounds test, we find that there is a long term relationship between the variables of the model. The results show that energy consumption and economic growth have statistically significant positive effects on CO_2 emissions both in the short-run and long-run. The estimated coefficient for openness and population are positive and insignificant in the long term and these two variables are significant and respectively positive and negative in the short term. Economic growth has a positive impact on carbon emissions in both the long and short term. To conclude this research we suggest some recommendations for policy makers to undertake actions in order to develop alternative clean energies that emit less CO_2 and contribute to more economic growth without damaging the environment by redirecting investment towards less polluting sectors.