Energy consumption, economic growth, and CO2 emissions: Evidence from Cameroon

In this paper, we use time-series econometric modeling in view of examining the short-and long-run causal relationship among energy consumption, economic growth, and CO2 emissions in Cameroon. The unit root test, the cointegration test, and Granger causality based on the error correction model (ECM) are tested on annual time-series data during the period 1971-2013. The results confirm the presence of a long-run equilibrium relationship between the variables and phenomenon of return to equilibrium. Granger causality based on ECM indicates the existence of three bidirectional relationships in the long run at the 5% level between the variables. There however exists only one unidirectional relationship at the 5% level of significance running from CO2 emissions to energy consumption in the short run. Cameroon should implement policies to maintain the rise in energy consumption while developing energy-saving technologies and increase the renewable energy sources and to keep up economic growth to reduce its CO2 emissions in the atmosphere for the success of its emergence in 2035.