The Environmental Impact of Electricity Generation: New Evidence from BRICS Countries

Energy and its related services are crucial to the well-being of society. Access to clean water and sanitation is dependent on energy supply, and so is the provision of quality education and healthcare services. Of equal importance is the manner in which energy is produced and consumed, as the livelihood of future generations depends largely on this. Recently, policymakers have found themselves in a pickle, having to strike a balance between meeting the energy demands of the current generation without compromising the environmental needs of future generations. Given this context, the crux of this study was to examine the impact of renewable and non-renewable energy sources on environmental sustainability in the BRICS region. The findings revealed that non-renewable energy sources, particularly coal and natural gas, augment higher levels of carbon dioxide emissions both in the short run and long run. In contrast, renewable energy sources such as hydro, wind and solar energy were found to lessen the burden of carbon dioxide emissions on the environment. As such, this study cautions against the heavy reliance on non-renewable energy sources, as they threaten livelihoods and biodiversity.