Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p> This paper reexamines the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis of South Asian economies Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka from 1990–2023. Moving beyond standard carbon focused models, this study analyzes the determinants of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to capture the region agricultural footprint alongside rapid industrialization. The Cross Sectionally Augmented IPS (CIPS) panel unit root test results show the mixed I (0)/I (1) integration order suitable for panel ARDL framework. Pooled Mean Group (PMG) estimator is preferred over Dynamic Fixed Effects by the Hausman test and robustness is assessed using alternative lag selection and DOLS. PMG, alternative lag selection and DOLS all indicate a U-shaped relationship between income and emissions, the opposite of the traditional inverted-U EKC. With a turning point of US$ 1,571 per capita, many south Asian economies have crossed this threshold. Energy consumption is most consistent driver in long run in all estimators. The correlation between trade openness and emissions is positive and consistent with the pollution haven hypothesis, whereas the effects of FDI on emissions are found to be insignificant, and the effect of urbanization on emissions is different by country and by estimator. The pooled error correction term is negative and statistically significant, indicating that it is a long-run attractor and that the adjustment rate is around 45% per year. Growth in GHG emissions in South Asia does not happen automatically under the EKC self-correction mechanism. <bold>JEL Classification:</bold> Q56, Q54, C23, O53 </p>