Human Development Index

The present study aims to present an analytical review of the relationship between development-driven education and environmental improvement. Previous research in this field has often examined the effect of environmental pollution on the human development index in general. However, this study uniquely focuses on a separate review of human development indicators on the environment and education. Thus, this study applied an econometric method using Eviews13 software during the years 1990-2023. The analytical review of the effect of development-driven education on environmental improvement, with an emphasis on the human development index, was conducted among selected countries of the Middle East (United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Yemen, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Turkey, Syria, Cyprus, and Saudi Arabia) and Iran. The dependent variable in this paper was CO2 emission, and the independent variables included education, health, standard of living (a measure to evaluate the human development index), fossil fuel consumption, and the growth rate of the urban population. The results of the study in the Middle Eastern countries indicate that the measurement dimensions of the human development index have a negative and significant effect on environmental pollution. Higher human development is beneficial for the environment and mitigates CO2 emissions and other pollutants. Additionally, this protects the environment by lowering pressure on natural resources. The variables of urbanization rate and fossil fuel consumption have a positive effect on the level of air pollution. In addition, the results of the study in Iran demonstrate that fossil fuel consumption and urbanization are factors that directly influence the country’s air pollution, and the measurement dimensions of the human development index. No significant relationship was found regarding education (average years of education for adults), but a negative and significant effect was shown on environmental pollution.