Analysing the Linkage between Human Development and Environmental Quality: Fresh Evidence from Türkiye

Year 2024, Issue: 41, 118 - 132, 26.12.2024

Burhan Durgun

https://doi.org/10.26650/ekoist.2024.41.1540282

Abstract

Climate change caused by increases in anthropogenic activities threatens both the present and the future. In this sense, increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are one of the biggest obstacles to sustainability. Identifying the factors that contribute to environmental degradation (ED) can be useful in designing policies to mitigate the effects of this problem. Although carbon emissions are frequently used as a metric for assessing ED, GHG emissions offer a more comprehensive indicator. While numerous studies have examined the relationship between ED and economic growth, the existing literature on the relationship between ED and development remains limited. In this context, this study examines the impact of the human development index, which is accepted as a comprehensive indicator of development, sub-indices of the human development index and urbanisation on GHG emissions in Türkiye for the period 1990-2021 using the augmented ARDL method. The bounds test results indicate that the variables are co-integrated. In the long run, the income dimension and urbanisation contribute ED, while the education dimension has a slightly protective effect on the environment. The effects of the human development index and the health index on environmental degradation are statistically insignificant. However, when the robustness check is conducted, the effect of the human development index is found to be significant. To enhance environmental quality, it is imperative to diminish the reliance on fossil fuels in the production process and augment investments in renewable energy. It is also recommended that education services become more inclusive and equitable. Ultimately, to mitigate the harmful environmental consequences of urbanisation, it is crucial to enhance the sustainability capacities of urban centres.

Keywords

Human Development Index, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Environmental Degradation, Augmented ARDL

İnsani Gelişme – Çevre Kalitesi Bağlantısının Analizi: Türkiye İçin Yeni Kanıtlar

Abstract

Antropojenik faaliyetlerdeki artışların neden olduğu iklim değişikliği hem bugünü hem de geleceği tehdit etmektedir. Bu anlamda, artan sera gazı salınımı, sürdürülebilirliğin önündeki en büyük engellerden biridir. Çevresel bozulmaya etki eden faktörlerin belirlenmesi, bu sorunun etkilerini azaltmaya yönelik politikaların geliştirilmesinde faydalı olabilmektedir. Çevresel bozulmayı ifade etmek için sıklıkla karbon emisyonu kullanılsa da sera gazı emisyonları daha kapsamlı bir göstergedir. Çevresel bozulmanın büyüme ile ilişkisini araştıran çalışmalar fazla olmasına rağmen kalkınma ile ilişkisini araştıran literatür hala zayıftır. Bu bağlamda bu çalışmada Türkiye’de 1990-2021 döneminde kalkınmanın kapsamlı bir göstergesi olarak kabul gören insani gelişme endeksi, insani gelişme endeksinin alt endeksleri ve kentleşmenin sera gazı emisyonları üzerindeki etkisi genişletilmiş ARDL yöntemiyle incelenmiştir. Sınır testi sonuçları değişkenlerin eşbütünleşik olduğunu göstermiştir. Uzun dönem esnekliklerine göre gelir boyutu ve kentleşme çevresel bozulmayı arttırırken eğitim boyutu az da olsa çevreyi koruyucu etkide bulunmaktadır. İnsani gelişme endeksi ve sağlık endeksinin çevresel bozulmaya etkisi ise istatistiksel olarak anlamsız bulunmuştur. Ancak sağlamlık kontrolü yapıldığında insani gelişme endeksinin etkisinin anlamlı olduğu görülmektedir. Çevre kalitesinin yükselmesi için üretim sürecinde fosil yakıtların ağırlığının azaltılması ve yenilenebilir enerji yatırımlarının arttırılması gerekmektedir. Ayrıca eğitim hizmetleri daha kapsayıcı ve daha eşit bir şekilde sunulmalıdır. Son olarak kentleşmenin çevre kirletici etkisinin azaltılması için kentlerin sürdürülebilirlik kabiliyetlerinin arttırılması gerekmektedir.

Keywords

İnsani Gelişme Endeksi, Sera Gazı Emisyonu, Çevresel Bozulma, Genişletilmiş ARDL

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