Coal Consumption and Environmental Sustainability in South Africa: The role of Financial Development and Globalization

This paper aims to investigate coal consumption and environmental sustainability in South Africa by examining the role of financial development globalization using a dataset covering period from 1980 2017. The study utilized Auto-regressive Distributed Lag Model (ARDL) approach addition Bayer Hank combined co-integration, fully modified Ordinary least squares (FMOLS), Dynamic ordinary Squares (DOLS). further frequency domain causality test capture causal linkage between series. advantage is that it can linkages series at different periods. Hanck co-integration ARDL bounds tests reveal among empirical findings based on long-run estimation 1% increase increases degradation 1.077%, while decreases 0.973%. Furthermore, economic growth quality 1.449%. outcomes FMOLS DOLS approaches also provide supportive evidence for results. results significance level 1%, Granger causes CO2 emissions frequencies, long run short 10%. In terms policy suggestions, should embrace policies encourage energy consumers shift toward renewable energy. reforms be implemented curb