Effects of Renewable Energy Policies on Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Sub-Saharan Africa

Although several nations in Sub-Saharan Africa have passed legislation pertaining to renewable energy, there are significant differences in the effectiveness and design of these policy tools among African countries. This study provides an examination of renewable energy policies using Granger causality test to track and assess their related impacts on greenhouse gas emissions. Extracts of different renewable energy policies such as tenders, subsidies, tariffs, etc. were tested using regression analysis upon doing a study of a cross section of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. While policy design has advanced, implementation has proceeded at a varying rate with results showing that countries that have had higher level of RE application indicate some reduction in greenhouse gas emissions as opposed to those that have had lower level of RE application, they indicate little or no inhibition against greenhouse gas emissions.Scholarly literature shows some gap in policies with regard to carbon credits. This article suggests creating a thorough framework for carbon credit policies to speed up the adoption of clean technology across the Sub-Saharan Region.