Does nuclear energy mitigate CO2 emissions in the USA? Testing IPAT and EKC hypotheses using dynamic ARDL simulations approach

Abubakar Hassan, Mohammad Haseeb, Festus Victor Bekun, Asieh Haieri Yazdi, Ehsan Ullah, Md. Emran Hossain (Lead / Corresponding author)

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Growing concern over climate change mitigation has heightened the search for low-carbon, affordable, and non-intermittent energy alternatives. In this perspective, hydropower, thermal, solar, photovoltaic, and nuclear energy sources fit all these qualities as they are well-known as cleaner and ecosystem-friendly energy sources. However, despite the attractiveness of the clean energy transition, the extant literature has less documentation on the pertinent role of nuclear energy in the “climate change mitigation (SDG-13)” agenda, hence making it difficult to predict nuclear energy-CO2 emissions (CO2e) nexus. Hence, the present study, using IPAT and the “environmental Kuznets curve (EKC)” framework, explores the consequences of nuclear energy generation, population dynamics, and economic progress on CO2e in the “United States of America (USA)” by applying a “dynamic autoregressive distributed lag (DARDL)” model from 1973 to 2021. The study provides evidence the existence of the EKC phenomena, suggesting that economic expansion hurts the environment up to a specific threshold level of per capita income, which is identified as US$ 29,581.16. Further empirical findings also show the detrimental effect of population-induced-emission. Remarkably, a 1% rise in nuclear energy generation dwindles CO2e by around 0.819%. The outcomes of this research demonstrate that economic growth level, population, and CO2 emission are entangled. However, there is a need for a collective role from both stakeholders and policymakers in achieving “SDG-13” as well as “clean and affordable energy (SDG-7)” with a paradigm shift of the USA energy portfolio away from fossil fuels to renewables.
Original languageEnglish
Article number105059
Number of pages11
JournalProgress in Nuclear Energy
Volume169
Early online date25 Jan 2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2024

Keywords

  • Nuclear energy
  • Economic growth
  • Population
  • CO2 emissions
  • Dynamic ARDL model
  • CO emissions

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality
  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • Waste Management and Disposal
  • Nuclear Energy and Engineering

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Does nuclear energy mitigate CO2 emissions in the USA? Testing IPAT and EKC hypotheses using dynamic ARDL simulations approach'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this