The effect of Carbon Emissions on Life Expectancy: Evidence from Azerbaijan

Abstract

Life expectancy (LEX) is an important indicator of the general health status and quality of life of a country. It is directly related to factors such as the effectiveness of a country's health policies and the level of social and economic welfare. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are one of the key causes of global climate change and have direct negative impacts on human health through air pollution. Many studies in the literature have revealed that high CO2 emissions have negative effects on health and reduce life expectancy. This study, probably the first of its kind in Azerbaijan, was analyzed using data for the period 1974-2022. The stationarity of the variables was tested with nonlinear unit root tests such as KSS, Sollis and Kruse and it was found that they were not stationary at the level. The existence of a cointegration relationship between the variables was determined through the A-ARDL method. Based on the results obtained from CCR and FMOLS method, a 1% increase in CO2 leads to a 0.15% decrease in LEX. In addition, the results of the FTY causality test revealed that there is unidirectional causality from CO2 to LEX.