The Environmental Kuznets Curve Hypothesis for Colombia: Impact of Economic Development on Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Ecological Footprint

Climate change has become a significant concern for developing countries given the risk that it poses to energy and food independence, general productivity. Despite having an system with low carbon intensity when compared other Latin American countries, Colombia is already facing climate impacts requires urgent efforts mitigate them. As country, challenge bigger as policies economic growth should be in line global commitment of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. With aim contributing design by using data driven methodologies scientific evidence, this study assesses impact development on environment examining validity environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis Colombia. Statistically validated stable autoregressive distributed lag models are estimated three different indicators: dioxide emissions, methane ecological footprint. Moreover, effects variables such urbanization, foreign direct investment, value added agricultural industrial sectors, use analyzed dynamic simulations. To best our knowledge, there no reports EKC estimation these statistically Colombia; thus, paper adds evidence countries. Empirical supports long-run equilibrium relationship among investigated existence inverted U-shaped between gross domestic product (GDP) GDP The results show shifting renewable sources leveraging cleaner technologies sectors key factors without harming environment, which important because its evidence-based approach public policy making particularly