Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Health Outcomes in Nigeria: Empirical Insight from ARDL Technique

This study examines the long-run effect of emissions of greenhouse gas (GHG) on health outcomes in Nigeria using time series data from 1985 to 2016 engaging the auto-regressive distribution lag (ARDL) econometric approach to cointegration and it was observed that human activities increase GHG to the atmosphere, this is through combustion of fossil fuels and CO2 , these are two major sources of GHG emissions (GHGE). When the quantity of carbon dioxide increases in the air, more heat is stored in the atmosphere; and this comes upon human beings thereby causing a great harmful effect to human health. The result from ARDL econometric approach to cointegration shows that 1% increase in GHGE reduces life expectancy by 0.0422% which is used as a proxy for health outcome, if this happens, invariably, mortality rate will be 146.6%. Therefore, the major strategy among others recommended in this study for controlling gaseous emissions and increase life expectancy is public health expenditure as the results also shows that 1% increase in government health care expenditure increases life expectancy approximately by 18.10%