Pollution and the economy have been closely interconnected throughout the entirety of human history. The understanding of the relationship between environmental degradation and economic development is incomplete as a result of disciplinary prejudices. The aim of this research is to comprehend the dynamic correlation between air pollution and the economy of Uzbekistan. Additionally, it seeks to examine the presence of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) to identify the most effective policy options for reducing emissions while sustaining economic growth. This study utilized the Bayer-Hanck Cointegration test and Granger Causality tests to accomplish its objectives. The presence of Bayer-Hanck cointegration suggests a durable connection between air pollution and economic growth. Furthermore, the Granger causality test demonstrates that there is a causal relationship between economic growth and the three air pollutants, with a significance level of 0.05. This study seeks to address a gap in the current literature by examining the relationship between air pollutants and economic growth. It attempts to investigate the EKC hypothesis and the effects of air pollution on economic growth specifically in Uzbekistan.

This article examines the relationship between economic growth and air pollution in Uzbekistan, which has achieved rapid economic development in recent years. Using data from 2000 to 2020, we used econometric methods to examine the impact of economic growth on air pollution. Our results show that economic growth has a positive and significant effect on air pollution in Uzbekistan, suggesting the existence of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis. However, the relationship between economic growth and air pollution is not linear, and the tipping point at which economic growth begins to reduce air pollution is not yet clear in Uzbekistan. Our findings have important policy implications for the sustainable development of Uzbekistan's economy and the reduction of air pollution.