A recent academic study has issued a striking warning regarding the accelerating environmental degradation in Libya. The study attributes this deterioration to the absence of effective policies to curb carbon emissions, advocating for the adoption of comprehensive national strategies to transition towards clean and renewable energy sources. It also recommends an urgent review of government subsidies for fuel prices, which directly contribute to exacerbating environmental pollution.
These findings emerged from a study prepared by Dr. Mariam Al-Kawafi, titled “Environmental Pollution in North African Countries: The Case of Libya,” presented within the Faculty of Economics at Benghazi University. The study addressed the severe environmental challenges associated with climate change, with a particular focus on the complex relationship between economic growth and carbon dioxide emissions in Libya from 1990 to 2021.
Al-Kawafi asserted in the summary of her study that climate change has become a paramount international priority; however, Libya continues to address these issues with a limited degree of seriousness. This situation, according to the study, necessitates a significant elevation of environmental awareness and the formulation of effective government policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving the necessary balance between economic growth and environmental sustainability.
Call for review of Libyan Environmental Policies
The study highlighted the fact that Libya, as a member of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), relies almost entirely on the oil sector as its primary source of national income. As a result of this dependence, the country has made no significant progress in developing environmental policies that limit emissions or encourage the use of renewable energy. Government subsidies for energy prices are considered one of the main factors hindering the implementation of clean energy projects, as they lead to excessive and unsustainable consumption of fossil fuels.
According to the “Climate Change Fact Sheet 2017” report, the Libyan economy’s reliance on oil intensifies pollution, necessitating an immediate focus on policies aimed at reducing emissions as the first step towards achieving a more sustainable environment.
Despite Libya’s signing of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1999, the development of the “Renewable Energy Strategic Plan 2013-2025,” and the establishment of the “Libyan Renewable Energy Authority,” these steps have remained largely on paper without effective implementation. No clear improvement in carbon emission rates has been observed, with the exception of the 2011 war period, when oil activities temporarily ceased due to security disruptions.
Study objectives and methodological importance
The study aims to shed light on the reciprocal impacts between economic growth, energy consumption, and environmental degradation. It also seeks to review current national policies in the absence of a clear environmental vision. The study further endeavours to analyse the factors influencing carbon dioxide emissions, such as GDP and electricity losses during transmission and distribution.
The study relied on data collected from the World Bank and reliable international platforms, covering the period from 1990 to 2021. It employed the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model alongside the Error Correction Model (ECM) to analyse the dynamic relationship between economic growth and environmental pollution. The element of electricity loss during distribution was also introduced as a potential additional factor contributing to pollution.
The study’s results showed the absence of what is known as the “Environmental Kuznets Curve” in the Libyan context, meaning that pollution does not decrease with increasing economic growth. The results also clarified that GDP is directly correlated with carbon emissions, while electricity losses did not show a statistically significant impact, which could be attributed to a lack of accurate data on electricity usage patterns.
Promising future outlook and renewable energy potential
The study indicates that Libya possesses one of the highest solar radiation rates globally, with annual sunshine hours exceeding 3,500. This is equivalent, in terms of energy, to a 25 cm thick layer of crude oil covering the country’s surface annually. These enormous resources represent a golden opportunity to reduce emissions through investment in solar energy projects, such as public road lighting.
In conclusion of her study, Dr. Al-Kawafi called for the adoption of strict environmental policies, the gradual phasing out of fossil fuel subsidies, and the widespread encouragement of renewable energy sources. This measure is deemed essential for reducing the carbon footprint and achieving sustainable development in Libya, which is an active participant in North Africa’s regional efforts to confront the impacts of climate change.