The problems of environmental quality in Indonesia: Do education levels matter?

Abstract Environmental degradation has emerged as a significant global concern in both emerging and industrialized nations. Immense body of economic literature have verified the probable factors that may become the reasons for environmental degradation and some studies have shown that education is a crucial aspect in restoring the environmental quality. This study aims to understand the impact of different levels of education on environmental quality in Indonesia by Utilizing the Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS) regression method for the time frame spanning from 1996 to 2021. The current research employs load capacity factor as a replacement indicator for environmental quality. This study concludes that higher population with basic education level will reduce the environmental quality, while higher population with intermediate education increase the environmental quality. Finally, this study also finds that higher population with advanced education level will harm the environmental quality. Based on the results, it is important for the Government to create compulsory environmental-friendly curricula in all levels of education that supports the reduction of environmental problems in Indonesia.