The anthropogenic consequences of energy consumption in Sub-Saharan Africa: Is there a role for education?

•The study examines the role of education on CO2 emissions in Sub-Saharan Africa.•The Pooled OLS reveal a negative relationship between education and emissions.•The random effects and system GMM reveal a positive relationship between education and CO2 emissions in the region.•The study suggests that efforts be made to improve education with an emphasis on the harmful effects of emissions to the environment. Sub-Saharan Africa has been one of the most affected regions in the world by the emissions-induced climate crisis. Even though the region is not the biggest emitter of CO2 globally it is important to understand the dynamics of emissions in the sub-continent. This study takes a look at one of those determinants –education. Specifically, the study attempts to unravel the role of education on C02 emissions in Sub-Saharan Africa. To achieve this aim, the study adopts a sample of 46 countries in the region and employs data covering the period 1996–2018. The estimations are carried out using four estimators (Pooled OLS, Fixed Effects, Random Effects and System-GMM). The findings of the study reveal that the improvement in education has two different impacts on C02 emissions in Sub-Saharan Africa. On one hand, the Pooled OLS reveal a negative relationship between education and emissions – (0.000374%) while the random Effects and system GMM reveal a positive relationship between education and C02 emissions (0.000934% & 0.000233% in the region. Similarly, energy consumption is positively associated with carbon emissions (0.0209%). More so, the study suggests that efforts be made to improve education with an emphasis on the harmful effects of emissions to the environment as this will aid to reduce emission-related activities in Sub-Saharan Africa.