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The literature on the intersection of environment and economic growth is extensive, and emerging research emphasizes additional variables that affect both domains. It is well known that institutional quality enhances environmental quality because institutions affect environmental quality and economic growth through regulatory policies. Moreover, infrastructure investment is a critical driver of growth and environmental improvement, providing the necessary foundation for change. This research contributes to the literature by examining the dynamic interaction between ecological footprint, infrastructure investment, institutional quality, and economic growth using the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis for the 10 European Union countries with the highest levels of infrastructure investment from 1996 to 2020 to highlight how infrastructure and institutional quality affect environmental outcomes differently across countries. It finds long-run relationships among the variables in the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Slovakia, Sweden, and Switzerland. The findings confirm the cointegration by confirming the EKC hypothesis for the panel and particularly for Finland, France, Norway, Slovakia, and Sweden. The study observes that increased infrastructure investments reduce the ecological footprint in Germany and Sweden but increase the ecological footprint in the Czech Republic and France. In Sweden, higher institutional quality significantly reduces the ecological footprint, suggesting that improvements in institutional quality are associated with a lower ecological footprint. These results provide a new perspective on the policy revisions required to achieve net zero emissions under the Paris Climate Agreement, emphasizing the need to integrate green finance into privately financed infrastructure projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Objective Methods Results Conclusion This study aimed to determine the ecological footprint awareness and ecological intelligence levels of nurses working in a hospital.This descriptive study was conducted with 290 nurses working in a hospital. The study data were collected using a descriptive questionnaire, “Ecological Intelligence Scale”, and “Ecological Footprint Awareness Scale”. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS v23. The conformity of the data to the normal distribution was examined using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. Pearson Correlation analysis and Regression analysis were used to determine and explain the relationships between variables.The mean age of the nurses in the study was 34.30 ± 8.53 and 85.9% were female. A statistically significant relationship was found between nurses' membership in an environmental association or organization (β = 0.192; p = 0.001) and their reaction to individuals who pollute the environment (β = 0.208; p = 0.001) and ecological intelligence. In addition, a statistically significant relationship was found between nurses' gender (β = 0.121; p = 0.041) and their reaction to individuals who pollute the environment and ecological footprint awareness (β = 0.165; p = 0.006). As the age and professional seniority of nurses increases, their ecological footprint awareness also increases (p < 0.001).As the age and working years of nurses increase, their awareness of ecological footprint also increases. As nurses' ecological intelligence increases, their awareness of their ecological footprint also increases. Female nurses have higher ecological footprint awareness than male nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Revealing motivations in food choice and investigating the potential role of sustainable healthy eating behavior, ecological footprint awareness and food security in food choice are important points for a sustainable life. This study was conducted with 5285 adults aged 19–65 residing in Turkey to investigate their food choice motivations in terms of sustainable and healthy eating behavior, ecological footprint awareness, and the food insecurity perspective. Methods: In this context, the Food Choice Questionnaire, the Sustainable and Healthy Eating Behaviors Scale, the Awareness Scale for Reducing Ecological Footprint and the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale were used. Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine relationships between scales. The effects of sustainable and healthy eating behaviors, ecological footprint awareness, and household food insecurity on food choice motivations were examined via path analysis. Results: A moderate positive (r = 0.47, p < 0.05) relationship was found between the participants' awareness levels of sustainable and healthy eating behaviors and reducing the ecological footprint. A weak negative (r=-0.22, p < 0.05) relationship was found between their awareness levels of ecological footprint reduction and household food insecurity, and a weak negative (r=-0.16, p < 0.05) relationship was found between sustainable and healthy eating behaviors and household food insecurity. The explanatory power of ecological footprint awareness, sustainable and healthy eating behaviors, and household food insecurity for food choices was 27.2%. It was observed that ecological footprint awareness (β = 0.21, p < 0.05) and sustainable and healthy eating behaviors (β = 0.38, p < 0.05) significantly and positively affected food choices. Conclusions: The variables influencing food choices the most were sustainable and healthy eating behavior, ecological footprint awareness, and household food insecurity. Although there are various data in the literature on the multiple factors that determine food choices, a consensus on the effectiveness of these factors has yet to be reached. A comprehensive examination of this issue, including all the components, is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The members of the G20 have seen remarkable fiscal growth in recent years, along with a rise in the demand of consumers for energy. The G20 countries, however, use a significant amount of energy products derived from fossil fuels, which could be harmful to the sustainable development goals. This paper assesses the complex relationships between commerce, the energy transition, the use of natural resources, banking development, monetary development, geopolitical issues, and ecological deterioration. For our statistical analysis, this study employed extensive fiscal models and empirical datasets covering the years 1990–2020. The statistical findings using the Moments Quantile Regression method show that breakthroughs in finance and energy transition guarantee sustainable development. The geopolitical risk, economic expansion, and use of natural resources all contribute to the decline of ecological conditions. But trading's overall effect on the health of the world was not consistent. Our thorough empirical study makes it possible for governments to recommend effective laws to solve environmental issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the study, the relationship between ecological footprint, economic freedom, renewable energy consumption, and economic growth is analysed under the scope of environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis. Here, fifteen countries with the highest economic freedom for the period 1996–2018 are selected to more clearly underline the impact of economic freedom on the environment and examined, i.e., Australia, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, and Switzerland. The long-term relationship between the variables is examined using the panel cointegration test. According to the test results, it has been observed that the variables in the EKC model act together in the long run. According to the long-term estimation results, it is seen that economic freedom decreases the ecological footprint, namely, environmental degradation, in Canada, while it increases in Estonia. Furthermore, it is concluded that renewable energy reduces the ecological footprint in Australia, Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, Singapore, and Switzerland. Nevertheless, it has been determined that the EKC hypothesis is valid for Canada, Denmark, and Singapore, but not for other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the intricate relationship between multiple socioeconomic, human capital, and technological factors and their impacts on the ecological footprint within the ASEAN region. Focusing on eight ASEAN nations (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) for the period between 1990 and 2020, this study employs Driscoll Kraay Standard Error (DKSE) and Quantile Regression methodologies to examine this phenomenon comprehensively. The findings reveal that the Human Capital Index (HCI) and technological patents exhibit negative coefficients, suggesting their beneficial impact on reducing ecological footprint by 0.162% and 0.027% sequentially in the DKSE approach. By contrast, population, GDP, tourism, globalization, and trade openness show positive coefficients, indicating their potential to exacerbate environmental degradation. Notably, population emerged as the most detrimental factor. Meanwhile, HCI demonstrated the most potent beneficial effect on environmental quality, suggesting that ASEAN nations should continue investing in their people to safeguard the environment. The implications of this study are critical for policymakers and stakeholders in the ASEAN region, highlighting the need for strategic interventions that balance economic and technological advancements with environmental preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we bridge a crucial gap in the literature by investigating the interplay between environmental regulations, technological innovations, and renewable energy adoption and their impact on sector-specific environmental performance in the textile and fashion industry. Leveraging time series data from 1995 Q1 to 2022 Q4 and using autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) and Granger causality techniques, this research is built upon the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis and regulatory push innovation hypothesis to unravel these complex interactions. Our findings demonstrate that rigorous environmental regulations and taxes are pivotal in enhancing environmental outcomes across various industry sectors, leading to significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and particulate matter. However, the total leather and feather production (LFP) and total fashion production (FP) sectors are highly responsive to environmental policy and regulations. Although technological advancements and research and development (R&D) initially increase ecological footprints due to high upfront costs, they are indispensable for achieving long-term environmental improvements and reshaping regulatory landscapes. The adoption of renewable energy sources, meanwhile, delivers immediate and substantial reductions in carbon emissions, highlighting their critical role in advancing industry sustainability. In this study, we advocate for leveraging environmental regulations as drivers of technological innovation and sustainability, urging policymakers to implement incentives for technological progress and renewable energy adoption. The implications of this research are significant for both industry stakeholders and policymakers. By positioning environmental regulations as catalysts for technological advancement, in this study, we emphasize the importance of a proactive, integrated approach to sustainability. Despite the study's regional focus, which may limit generalizability, future research should include longitudinal and comparative analyses across varied regions and emerging technologies to refine strategies for superior environmental performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the crucial debates on sustainable development it is significant to understand the link between the development of tourism in small island countries and the ecological footprint. However, to date, little knowledge is available about the contribution of tourism to the EF of small island states. Therefore, the study aims to investigate the effects of international tourism, tourism revenues, total natural resource rents, urbanisation, energy intensity, and per capita gross domestic product (GDP) on ecological footprint among the Members of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS). The results of our study provide new empirical results on the impact of tourism, economic growth, energy intensity, natural resource rents, and urbanisation on the ecological footprint of the 7 AOSIS member countries. Cross-sectional dependency and cointegration test results are positive for the variables of interest. Our estimates based on CCEMG and AMG regressions showed which factors contribute to environmental degradation at the AOSIS and country levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explores the least explored domain concerning the impact of monetary tactics on carbon dioxide emissions in China, thereby adding depth to environmental economics. The analysis spans 1982–2022 and explores the interplay between monetary instruments, ecological footprint, CO2 emissions, and factors like human capital, GDP per capita, remittances, urbanization, and fossil fuel dependence. The investigation utilizes a multifaceted approach, including wavelet analysis techniques, like wavelet power spectrum, wavelet coherence analysis, quantile on quantile, and quantile regression. The findings unveil critical insights. The results demonstrate that monetary policy has had differing effects on emissions depending on the time. Contractionary policies are good for lowering medium- and long-term emissions, even if they cause a short-term increase in emissions. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the beneficial impact of human capital development on CO2 emissions. Fossil fuels, per capita income, and population significantly contribute to environmental damage beyond monetary policy. This research contributes original insights by integrating monetary policy and socio-economic factors in a comprehensive, multi-methodological framework, offering valuable guidance for crafting policies that balance economic growth with environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT This paper aims to investigate the relationship among green environmental technologies, resource efficiency, population density and ecological footprint in 38 OECD member countries between 2000 and 2019. The Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQREG) and Augmented Mean Group (AMG) estimators are used to analyse this relationship. Based on the results, strong evidence of a negative relationship between green environmental technologies, resource efficiency, population density and ecological footprint emerges, suggesting that these factors contribute to environmental improvement in OECD economies. Overall, the findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics among these variables and provide valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders striving for sustainable environmental management and policy formulation. In this context, countries should develop standard guidelines and best practices on green technologies and resource efficiency, making it easier for sectors to adapt in these areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With rising concerns about environmental sustainability, examining the economic-environmental nexus is essential. This study investigates the relationship between economic growth (GDP), renewable energy consumption (RENC), urbanization (URB), and foreign direct investment (FDI) with Norway's ecological footprint from 1990 to 2023. Guided by the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis, we aim to understand how these factors influence Norway's environmental impact over time. Using an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model, the study captures both the short- and long-term effects of these variables on the ecological footprint, and model stability is confirmed through the Cumulative Sum of Squares (CUSUM) test. The findings reveal a U-shaped EKC pattern, where initial economic growth reduces the ecological footprint, but beyond a certain GDP threshold, environmental pressures increase. Renewable energy consumption is shown to lower the ecological footprint significantly, supporting Norway's sustainability goals. Conversely, FDI is associated with increased environmental impact, potentially due to resource-intensive projects. These insights underscore the need for balanced policies that harmonize economic development with environmental preservation. Policymakers are encouraged to foster green FDI, prioritize renewable energy investments, and implement sustainable urban planning to maintain Norway's trajectory toward ecological sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several existing studies show that macroeconomic uncertainties intensify global environmental and climate challenges, putting the globe at risk of not being able to achieve the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. In this study, we provide global evidence on the role of energy-related uncertainty in the energy – environment dilemma between 1996 and 2021. We employ three distinct environmental indicators – load capacity factor (LCF), carbon dioxide emissions (CO2), and ecological footprint (EFP) – alongside a comprehensive global energy-related uncertainty index and time-frequency-quantile methods based on the Wavelet Quantile Correlation, Cross-Quantilogram, and Wavelet Local Multiple Correlation with Dominance. The empirical results suggest negative and strong nonlinear dependencies between energy-related uncertainty and the LCF across periods and quantiles. The results further suggest that the energy-related uncertainty has positive and strong nonlinear dependences not only with CO2 emissions but also EFP across various periods and quantiles. The results further suggest that the dependences between energy-related uncertainty and environmental indicators vary across periods and quantiles, with evidence of stronger dependency structures in the long run. These findings underscore the substantial influence of energy-related uncertainties on contemporary environmental challenges. We suggest that governments and policymakers need to reshape policy directives toward mitigating the environmental effects of energy-related uncertainties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to evaluate the impact of export product concentration on the ecological footprint in the European Union between 1995 and 2018, using the environmental Kuznets curve framework. We utilized the pooled mean group/autoregressive distributed lag approach, which confirmed the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis within the European Union. In addition, our findings reveal that export concentration has a negative impact on the ecological footprint, whereas energy consumption increases the ecological footprint. To further validate the obtained results, we conducted robustness checks using the fully modified ordinary least squares and dynamic ordinary least squares approaches, which validated the previous outcomes of the pooled mean group/autoregressive distributed lag approach. In the last step of our study, we employed the Dumitrescu–Hurlin causality analysis, which revealed a bidirectional causality involving the ecological footprint and energy consumption. These empirical findings directly result in valuable recommendations for policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the impact of information and communication technology (ICT) and the subcomponents of mobile, internet, and fixed telephone use on carbon dioxide emissions (CO2E) using a panel of 17 Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries from 1995 to 2016 while controlling for economic growth, population, and energy consumption. Additionally, the study examined the country-specific impacts of ICT and its subcomponents on CO2E. Finally, the study forecasted and proposed the CO2E mitigation pathways for the studied countries. By employing the panel autoregressive distributed lag (PARDL) model, the findings indicated that ICT and its subcomponents increase CO2E in the long run, while in the short run, only ICT reduces CO2E. Specifically, a 1% expansion in ICT, mobile, internet, and fixed telephone use increases CO2E by 0.015%, 0.006%, 0.014%, and 0.061%, respectively, in the long run. Additionally, the findings showed that countries with high levels of CO2E, such as Iran and Saudi Arabia, have the highest environmental deterioration effect of ICTs, while countries with low levels of CO2E, such as Lebanon and Malta, have the lowest effect. Finally, the CO2E for the studied countries demonstrated an upward trend; however, by maximizing sustainable ICT use, sustainable economic growth, and clean energy use via upgrading ICT infrastructure, granting tax incentives and subsidies, and feed-in-tariffs, CO2E for the studied countries will witness a significant decline by 2050. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the significant research on environmental issues, there has not been considerable investigation on the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis in the MENA nations using both CO2 emissions (CO2e) and ecological footprint (EF) environmental indicators in the same setting. Therefore, the primary goal of this research is to re-examine the EKC hypothesis in 18 MENA nations from 1990 to 2018 using a panel data model labeled the pooled mean group autoregressive distributed lags (PMG-ARDL). We employ CO2e and EF as environmental quality proxies to deal with all types of pollutants, not only air pollution, as well as the demand side of environmental assets. The outcomes of the econometric study revealed the absence of the EKC hypothesis using CO2e in contrast to EF where the hypothesis is held in the entire group and both oil-exporting and importing countries. Moreover, population and non-renewable energy significantly harm the environment in the three sub-sample groups of countries in this study. This is what requires the governments of these countries to strive more toward achieving environmental sustainability by preserving the environmental capacity of the region and reducing emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitigating poverty and ecological destruction signifies vital challenges to comprehend sustainable growth and development. Extensive pragmatic studies have inspected these challenges within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework. Nevertheless, it is important to distinguish that the intensifying problem of environmental deterioration establishes a significant impediment to accomplishing SDGs and minimizing poverty. The prime objective of the present analysis is to identify the association between ecological footprint, poverty, and economic policy uncertainty within the situation of developing Asian economies. Global warming and climatic issues have recently become a persistent and critical worldwide concern. Notably, the demesne of energy and environmental literature has not recently undertaken an inclusive investigation of the complications of economic policy uncertainty with combating poverty policies on ecological footprint. The current analysis identifies the research gap, which investigates the link between poverty, GDP growth, the uncertainty of economic policies, energy consumption, technological changes, and population growth for developing South-East Asian economies from 1996 to 2018. The STIRPAT model and CS-ARDL approach were used for modeling, and for robustness check, the FMOLS test was applied. The causality estimation outcomes of the Dumitrescu–Hurlin panel revealed a two-way association among numerous important variables, namely ecological footprint with energy consumption, poverty, economic growth, economic policy uncertainty, and technological innovation. Based on these comprehensive results, we offer substantial policy suggestions. For policy implications, this analysis investigates many elements to propose strategies and promote environmentally sustainable goals, such as sustainable growth initiatives, poverty reduction, adoption of clean energy sources, enhancement of technological innovation, and mitigating ecological humiliation in the Asian region. This study makes various significant influences by reconnoitering the EKC in the context of these developing economies and proposing insights into strategies to fight ecological destruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of simultaneously increasing economic development while mitigating ecological disbenefits is a significant challenge for many countries. There is a growing recognition that greater attention must be given to environmental concerns to maintain and improve biodiversity and generate positive ecological outcomes as part of measures to meet the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Many countries have increased their reliance on renewable energy to reduce carbon emissions and overall ecological footprint, but it is argued that any positive relationship between economic growth and pro‐environmental outcomes relies heavily on the quality of a country's institutions. This paper investigates this contention, focusing on the so‐called Next 11 (N‐11) countries, that is those developing countries exhibiting the most rapid economic development in the last three decades. Using the cross‐sectionally augmented autoregressive distributed lags (CS‐ARDL) technique to address cross‐sectional dependence in panel data, this paper examines the effects of renewable energy and institutional quality on the ecological footprint of the N‐11 countries from 1990 to 2022. It shows that while economic growth frequently generates environmental degradation, increasing consumption of renewable energy reduces the ecological footprint provided that institutional quality contributes positively to pro‐environmental outcomes. This analysis highlights the important role of institutional quality when designing policies to promote environmental sustainability. The results provide a benchmark for policymakers in the N‐11 countries to increase investment in renewable energy resources to help deliver environmental sustainability goals while also emphasising the need for governments to develop improved institutional quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental degradation and climate change problems in the African continent seriously hit country economies and human health, negatively affecting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). African countries have the potential to use economic development and renewable energy as a tool for their environmental sustainability. In this context, this study examines the effects of economic growth, modern renewable energy, and combustible renewable energy on ecological footprint (EF) in five African countries. To this end, the study uses novel regularization common correlated effects and half‐panel jackknife approaches on data from 2006 to 2020. The findings of the study show that economic progress effectively reduces the EF of African countries, but renewable energy does not contribute to ecological progress. Due to their insufficient and ineffective utilization, renewable energies are not an important tool for improving ecological systems. Therefore, African countries should prioritize their economic development as a priority goal. Based on the results, African countries experiencing economic advancement should bolster for SDGs objectives through green financial incentives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates how economic globalization, innovations in environment-related technology, shifts in industrial structure, and GDP collectively influence the ecological footprint of the top 10 Asian countries known for technological innovation from 1999 to 2018. Results show that economic globalization, industrial structure change, and GDP are important determinants of ecological footprint. Greater economic globalization and GDP growth harm the environment and require more resources. However, industrial structure change toward services ameliorates environment pressure. Uni-directional causality was established from globalization to ecological footprint, from ecological footprint to industrial structure change, and from GDP to industrial structure change. In addition, bidirectional causalities were also confirmed: between GDP and ecological footprint, between GDP and environment-related technology innovation, between economic globalization and GDP, and between environment-related technology innovation and ecological footprint. Finally, this study recommends that governments should enhance technological innovation, encourage industrial structure change towards high-value-added service industries, and use low-carbon energy in the pursuit of globalization. These results have notable implications for energy policy and economic sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The escalating apprehension regarding climate change mitigation has intensified the quest for energy alternatives that are low in carbon emissions, economically viable, and consistently available. Within this context, renewable energy sources emerge as fitting candidates, being recognized for their eco-friendliness and cleanliness. Nonetheless, despite the allure of transitioning towards cleaner energy, there exists a notable dearth of literature addressing the pivotal role of solar energy innovations and economic globalization in advancing the agenda of climate change mitigation (SDG-13), thus complicating the prediction of factors influencing ecological quality. Consequently, this study undertakes the inaugural investigation into the impact of solar energy innovation on ecological footprint, while also considering the influences of digitalization, economic globalization, renewable energy, and natural resources in the USA. To this end, Quantile-on-Quantile Kernel-Based Regularized Least Squares (QQKRLS) and wavelet quantile regressions (WQR) methodologies are employed, utilizing data spanning from 2000 to 2020. The analysis reveals that solar energy innovation, along with renewable energy, digitalization, and economic globalization, exerts a negative impact on ecological footprint, whereas natural resources exhibit a positive influence. Drawing from these insights, it becomes apparent that a concerted effort from stakeholders and policymakers is imperative in realizing the objectives of SDG-13 and SDG-7, necessitating a paradigm shifts in the USA's energy portfolio away from fossil fuels towards renewables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ecological footprint is an indicator of environmental impact and has become a significant research topic in recent years. It plays an important role in raising awareness about minimizing environmental problems by determining the extent of damage to the ecosystem. The ecological footprint is a valuable tool for researchers to assess the level of environmental damage and identify its causes, with the ultimate goal of promoting sustainability. This study aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis of scientific publications on the ecological footprint in the international arena. The study is descriptive and employs the scanning method. The researchers searched for studies published between 2010 and 2021 using the key concept of 'Ecological footprint' in the database. The bibliometric characteristics of 2748 publications scanned in the Web of Science database were determined. The research data were analyzed based on the number of publications per year and country, the most productive authors and journals, authors' h-indexes, most cited authors and journals, distributions by most cited references, and some relationships between these variables. The data reveal the interdisciplinary importance of the subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Africa has diverse ecosystems and abundant natural resources crucial for its growth and development. Unsustainable use of natural resources can increase the ecological footprint and lead to environmental deterioration on the continent. Several factors influence ecological footprint – a proxy for environmental degradation. However, literature on the determinants of ecological footprint in Africa is mixed and without any evidence on the effect on different quantiles/groups. Therefore, this paper explored the impact of agricultural production, renewable energy, rule of law, natural resource dependence and foreign investments on ecological footprint in Africa controlling for economic growth. We used data from 44 countries in Africa spanning a period of 21 years (2000–2020) and applied fixed effects and method of moment quantile regression models for analysis. Our findings show that GDP per capita, livestock production and foreign direct investments had significant positive association with ecological footprint for most of the quantiles. In contrast, renewable energy consumption, crop production index, rule of law, urbanisation and natural resource rents all reduced ecological footprint in Africa for most of the quantiles. Continuous law enforcement in Africa combined with investment in renewable energy, sustainable crop production practices and sustainable management of natural resources would reduce the continent's ecological footprint and environmental degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]