Investigating the Contribution of People with Different Levels of Education in the Society on Environmental Pollution

Izadi, Hamid Reza; Sayareh, Morteza; Mohamadnezhad, Farkhondeh

doi:10.30473/ee.2026.74823.2858

Investigating the Contribution of People with Different Levels of Education in the Society on Environmental Pollution

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

¹ Associate Professor, Department of Economics, Faculty of Management and Humanities, Chabahar Maritime University, Iran

² Lecturer, Department of Economics, Faculty Member of Management and Humanities, Chabahar Maritime University, Iran

³ 3. Master's Degree of Environmental Economics, Chabahar Maritime University, Ir

10.30473/ee.2026.74823.2858

Abstract

Environmental pollution has emerged as a critical global concern, drawing persistent attention from international organizations due to its severe ecological and socio-economic consequences. Developing countries such as Iran are particularly vulnerable, as rapid urbanization, industrialization, and rising energy consumption have significantly intensified environmental degradation in recent decades. Education is widely acknowledged as a key determinant in shaping environmental awareness, responsibility, and sustainable behavior; however, its measurable impact on pollution has received limited empirical attention.This study investigates the contribution of different education levels to environmental quality in Iran over the period 2006–2020. Relying on official national statistics, the analysis applies the Instrumental Variable (IV) econometric framework and Two-Stage Least Squares (2SLS) estimation to address potential endogeneity between education and environmental outcomes. The findings reveal a negative and statistically significant relationship between education and environmental pollution. In particular, higher education levels—especially Master’s and PhD degrees—exert the strongest mitigating effect on CO₂ emissions, whereas lower levels of education show weaker but still favorable impacts.The results underscore the pivotal role of education in fostering environmentally responsible behavior and advocate for policies that integrate sustainability into educational systems. Enhancing education levels not only strengthens human capital but also serves as a powerful tool for improving environmental quality and promoting sustainable development.

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