The impacts of gross domestic product and non-renewable energy on CO2 emissions in India

In this study, we examine the relationship between India’s economic growth and CO2 emissions, alongside the influence of population dynamics, energy efficiency, and renewable and non-renewable energy consumption on CO2 levels. Using Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) analysis, we analyze data from 1990 to 2019 to investigate these relationships. Our findings indicate that non-renewable energy consumption (NREC) significantly contributes to CO2 emissions, highlighting the urgent need for mitigation strategies in this area. Moreover, our study reveals the complex interplay among various factors influencing CO2 emissions in India. Interestingly, while renewable energy consumption (REC) and energy efficiency (EE) were expected to have significant effects on CO2 emissions, our analysis suggests otherwise. Additionally, we find a negative correlation between population size (POP) and CO2 levels, although further investigation is warranted to fully understand this relationship. These findings underscore the importance of adopting a multifaceted approach to mitigate CO2 emissions in India, addressing both the reduction of non-renewable energy consumption and the promotion of renewable alternatives.