The role of economic growth on the environment based on the Kuznets environmental curve theory approach

Planning and policy making in the field of economic growth as one of the major macroeconomic goals requires special attention to the energy sector, environment and its relation to production. Undoubtedly, the production and increase of pollution is the result of the economic growth of the countries. This issue can be expressed in the context of the environmental economics, in the context of the Kuznets environmental curve, in which the process of environmental degradation is explained according to the nature and stages of economic growth. In this study, the effect of economic growth on emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollution was investigated using panel data method during the period of 2010-2018. For this purpose, the effect of real GDP per capita, per capita consumption of energy, the value added of the industrial sector from the actual GDP and the per capita GDP of the manufacturing plants on the per capita emissions of carbon dioxide gas (as the most important greenhouse gas) was estimated. The results indicate a N-shaped relationship between real per capita GDP and per capita carbon dioxide emissions and the confirmation of Kuznets' environmental theory in these countries. Also, evidence suggests that energy per capita variables, the value added share of the industry from real GDP, and the value added of productive productions have a positive effect on per capita carbon dioxide emissions.