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The causal nexus between carbon dioxide emissions and agricultural ecosystem—an econometric approach

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Abstract

Achieving a long-term food security and preventing hunger include a better nutrition through sustainable systems of production, distribution, and consumption. Nonetheless, the quest for an alternative to increasing global food supply to meet the growing demand has led to the use of poor agricultural practices that promote climate change. Given the contribution of the agricultural ecosystem towards greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, this study investigated the causal nexus between carbon dioxide emissions and agricultural ecosystem by employing a data spanning from 1961 to 2012. Evidence from long-run elasticity shows that a 1 % increase in the area of rice paddy harvested will increase carbon dioxide emissions by 1.49 %, a 1 % increase in biomass-burned crop residues will increase carbon dioxide emissions by 1.00 %, a 1 % increase in cereal production will increase carbon dioxide emissions by 1.38 %, and a 1 % increase in agricultural machinery will decrease carbon dioxide emissions by 0.09 % in the long run. There was a bidirectional causality between carbon dioxide emissions, cereal production, and biomass-burned crop residues. The Granger causality shows that the agricultural ecosystem in Ghana is sensitive to climate change vulnerability.

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Acknowledgment

SAS expresses his sincere gratitude to Prof. Dr. Ali Cevat Taşıran of Middle East Technical University, Northern Cyprus campus, who provided the seed and earlier guidance for this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Middle East Technical University, Northern Cyprus Campus, Kalkanli, Guzelyurt, TRNC, 99738, via Mersin 10, Turkey

    Samuel Asumadu-Sarkodie & Phebe Asantewaa Owusu

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  1. Samuel Asumadu-Sarkodie
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  2. Phebe Asantewaa Owusu
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Correspondence to Samuel Asumadu-Sarkodie.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Asumadu-Sarkodie, S., Owusu, P.A. The causal nexus between carbon dioxide emissions and agricultural ecosystem—an econometric approach. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 1608–1618 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7908-2

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