Too poor to be clean? A quantile ARDL assessment of the environmental Kuznets curve in SADC countries

Abstract The purpose of this study is to investigate whether there a fit the environmental Kuznets curve for Southern African development community (SADC) countries. To end, we estimate quadratic regression between greenhouse gas emissions (CO 2 , N 0, CH 4 ), per capita income and other controls, using pooled mean group (PMG) quantile autoregressive distributive lag (QARDL) models applied annual data spanning from 1990 2021. On one hand, PMG (Pooled group) estimators reveal an EKC CO (turning point = $4675), inverse CH4 $6310) no N20 emissions. QARDL further more significant effects existing at tail end distributions all classes with turning points in upper (lower) quantiles being higher than those estimators. Further analysis informs us that only Seychelles have crossed ‘turning point’ while remaining countries are ‘ too poor go green. ’ Overall, these findings implications debate on climate justice Africa.