Abstract. This study investigates how economic growth, urbanization, energy use, trade openness, and forest area affect pollution in Africa from 1990 to 2022. Using the moment-quantile approach for panel data, we capture heterogeneous effects across the conditional distribution of CO2 emissions. Economic growth raises emissions at all quantiles, with stronger effects at higher pollution levels. Trade openness is beneficial at lower quantiles, while energy intensity worsens environmental quality everywhere. Forest resources mitigate emissions, especially in high-pollution countries, whereas urbanization mainly affects intermediate pollution levels. The findings support smart urban planning, energy transition, and forest management to curb emissions without hindering development.

Keywords: dioxide emissions, growth, heterogeneous effects, Africa, MM quantile.