Global Warming, Economic Development and their Impact on the Life Expectancy: An Empirical Evidence from Pakistan

The present study is an attempt to provide new evidence on the long-run effects of global warming (via greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), economic development (GDP growth rate), and forest area on the life expectancy by undertaking the annual time-series data of Pakistan during 1990 – 2016. The study employs the augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) test, Johansen co-integration, and Generalized Linear Model (GLM) to estimate the long-run effects, whereas, for robustness, this study employed the Least Squares Method (LSM) and Robust Least Squares Method (ROBUSTLS). In addition to this, the study undertakes the Granger causality test to predict the causality among the study variables. The outcomes of the GLM estimations provide the negative association of the total greenhouse gas emissions, carbon dioxide emissions, and forest area, and positive association of methane and nitrous oxide emissions with life expectancy. Further, Granger causality results provide the presence of bidirectional causality between carbon dioxide emissions and life expectancy and a unidirectional causality running from life expectancy to greenhouse gas emissions, methane emissions, and GDP. Based on the findings, the authors suggest controlling greenhouse gas emissions, including methane and nitrous oxide emissions, and focusing on the health sector to improve the life expectancy in Pakistan.