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Paper short abstract:

This paper focused on the social cost of carbon emissions, which is carbon damage, precipitation, and humidity on mortality rate, that consists of the life-time risk of maternal death, maternal mortality, infant mortality, and under-5 mortality rate in some selected sub-Saharan African nations.

Paper long abstract:

The study investigates the impact of climate change on mortality rates in 15 sub-Saharan African countries from 1995 to 2020, focusing on variables like carbon damage, precipitation, and humidity. Mortality indicators include infant, under-5, maternal mortality, and lifetime risk of maternal death, with health expenditure and crop production index as controls. Using ex-post research design and data from the World Bank and WHO, the study applies the PMG model for long- and short-run analyses.

Findings indicate that carbon damage reduces mortality rates in the long run, while humidity increases infant and under-5 mortality in both the short and long run. Precipitation reduces infant and under-5 mortality in the long run, and health expenditure negatively affects mortality rates. The crop production index shows limited significance, except for a long-term effect on maternal mortality.

The study concludes that sub-Saharan Africa faces heightened vulnerability to climate change, which worsens health outcomes, weakens fragile health systems, and exacerbates inequality. It calls for coordinated climate adaptation and mitigation strategies, health system strengthening, and socioeconomic development to reduce mortality and build resilience in the region.