A Time Series Analysis to Examine the Impact of Human Capital and Energy Consumption on Environmental Degradation in Pakistan

Abstract

The current situation of global environmental degradation is alarming. We are facing an alarming decline in nature, with humans causing significant changes to 75 percent of the Earth's surface, including 85 percent of wetlands. Additionally, 66 percent of the ocean's surface area is affected by human activities, including fishing and pollution. As a result, about 90% of the world's marine fish stocks are not used to their maximum benefit and are also overexploited, or depleted. Furthermore, increasing temperatures contribute to environmental deterioration, natural disasters, weather conditions, water and food insecurities, economic conflict, and terrorism. This degradation has extensive consequences, including the worst climate change, compromising force security, and putting people and communities at risk. Some immediate reactions are needed to reverse these trends and make imperative changes. (UN Environment Programme, n.d.) The South Asian region is experiencing a substantial environment that is declining due to various factors. Several countries in the areas are categorized by urbanization and industrialization by undergoing a transitional phase, including some greenhouse gas emissions and environmental distributions. The region is also declining due to climate change as well as rising sea levels, which is also affecting the Maldives and the melting glaciers in Nepal and Afghanistan. Additionally, urbanization is destroying some of the planet’s biologically diverse ecosystems. This biologically diverse ecosystem includes the Himalayan grassland and mountain forest ecosystems as well. Furthermore, this region has the highest air population globally. Despite certain advancements, a more comprehensive approach is required to meet the environmental objectives of the area. Hasnat, G. T., et al. (2018), EFSAS (n.d.), ANI (2021, December 16) (Agarwal, R., et al. 2021). Pakistan is currently experiencing severe environmental degradation as a result of several variables. Its economy, which ranks sixth in the world in terms of population, is struggling with environmental issues of trade openness, growth of population, and the utilization of fossil fuels for energy. The usage of coal to produce fired power, the import of used cars, the methodologies of traditional brick kilns, the urbanization of the world, and the burning of agricultural products all contribute to pollution and environmental degradation. Large cities are under mass migration from rural to urban areas because of the rise in air pollution. Cities have issues with environmental factors such as soil, lack of clean water, poor sanitation systems, and hygiene conditions. Despite these factors, Pakistan is still working to improve the quality of the environment. (World Bank, 2006; Bhutto, A. W. (2023, July 24); Yousaf, U. S., et al. (2022). There are multiple issues in Pakistan such as dehydration of the environment as it is becoming a global concern nowadays which can cause diseases in humans and can also be a factor responsible for the extinction of plants and animals and hinder the development of the economy. As Pakistan is in its developing stage, a large number of trees are being cut down due to which the soil is getting