Impacts of carbon dioxide emissions on agricultural production indicators in Sub-Saharan African countries: new perspectives from static and dynamic panel models

Abstract

Agricultural productivity remains pivotal to the sustenance of the economies and livelihoods of Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. However, the emerging threat of climate change poses a significant challenge to these agricultural-dependent economies. Sub-Saharan African countries are at risk of experiencing the severe effects of climate change on their agricultural productivity. This paper examines the impact of climate change, as proxied by CO2 emissions, on the agricultural production index in Sub-Saharan Africa. The agricultural production index consists of the Crop and Livestock Production Index. Data for the study were extracted from the World Development Indicator, covering the period 1996–2021. The analysis utilized the Panel GMM estimation technique. The study revealed that the effects of climate change vary on crop production and livestock production indices. While climate change has a positive and significant effect on the crop production index, it exhibits a negative and significant impact on the livestock production index. Factors such as technological development, arable land size, and renewable energy use play a significant role in enhancing agricultural productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa. Conversely, government effectiveness and labor force exhibit a negative influence on the crop production index. In contrast to the crop production index, climate change has a detrimental effect on livestock productivity. Additionally, technological progress, renewable energy use, and arable land size have a negative impact on livestock productivity. The study recommends that African governments implement policies to promote technological progress, improve institutional quality, and increase renewable energy use in the agricultural sector to achieve sustainable agricultural growth. Policymakers and governments are also encouraged to address the challenges of communal land ownership and unclear property rights.