Exploring the Impact of Education on Environmental Sustainability: A Closer Look at the Role of a Highly Educated Workforce (Poster 3)

• In Event: Mapping the Terrain of Climate Change Education: Exploring Politics, Policy, Practice, and Perspectives

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to examine the longitudinal impact of different levels of education on environmental quality and renewable energy. Panel data was drawn from the World Bank and OECD databases for 20 OECD countries from 1997 to 2019. Rigorous quantitative analytic procedures were employed to better address the methodological issues of the existing literature. Findings showed that while lower-level education and per capita GDP significantly increased CO_2 emissions, higher education significantly decreased it. While both levels of education had positive influences, higher education was the most influential variable on renewable energy. Collectively, the study highlighted the significance of a highly educated workforce for promoting a sustained environment by reducing CO_2 emissions and increasing renewable energy utilization.

Authors

• Ibrahim Duyar, Arkansas State University

• Ferhat Ozbay, Isparta University of Applied Sciences

• Mohammed Aljanahi, United Arab Emirates University