Enhancing Life Expectancy for Sustainable Development: Poverty Reduction and Climate Change Implications in the Developing and Emerging Economies

This study investigates the dynamic impacts of poverty (SDG 1), climate change (SDG 13), education (SDG 4), economic growth (SDG 8), and female labor force participation (SDG 5) on life expectancy in 53 developing and 25 emerging economies using the Panel QARDL model from 1991 to 2022. Comparing both groups, in developing economies, poverty significantly reduces life expectancy in the short term but positively influences it in the long run. Conversely, poverty negatively impacts life expectancy in emerging economies across both time horizons. Climate change has a positive impact on most quantiles in both economies, whereas its effects remain limited and statistically insignificant. Education and economic growth significantly improve life expectancy in both economies in the short and long run. Female labor force participation negatively affects life expectancy in developing economies in both horizons, while this effect turns positive and significant in emerging economies in the long run. These findings underscore the need for targeted policy actions focusing on poverty alleviation, climate resilience, educational expansion, gender-equitable labor market reforms, and inclusive economic growth to improve public health outcomes and accelerate progress toward SDG targets, especially SDG 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 13.