The Impact of Renewable Energy On Ecological Footprint: The Case Of Turkey

Abstract

It is known that developing countries prefer non-renewable energy sources, which are more advantageous, especially in terms of cost and accessibility, in order to achieve their economic growth targets. While these energy resources, which are among the driving forces of economic growth, enable countries to achieve their growth targets, on the other hand, they increase the ecological footprint by causing environmental degradation and are the trigger of global warming by reducing the biological carrying capacity of the planet. Therefore, the use of carbon-neutral renewable energy sources instead of such polluting sources is of vital importance in order to increase environmental quality and prevent global warming by reducing the ecological footprint. At the same time, it is extremely important for energy sustainability that non-renewable energy resources have a certain lifespan, but there is no possibility of exhaustion of renewable energy resources. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of using renewable energy resources on the ecological footprint. In this regard, the 2000-2020 observation interval was taken as a basis for Turkey, which is among the developing countries. The relationship between the variables was investigated with the ARDL bounds test and the Toda Yamamoto causality test. According to the results obtained, the use of renewable energy sources reduces the ecological footprint and increases the biological capacity of the planet.

Keywords

• Ecological Footprint
• Environmental Technology
• Economic Growth
• Financial Development
• Renewable Energy

Yenilenebilir Enerjinin Ekolojik Ayak İzi Üzerine Etkisi: Türkiye Örneği

Abstract

Gelişmekte olan ülkelerin ekonomik büyüme hedeflerini gerçekleştirebilmek adına özellikle maliyet ve ulaşabilirlik açısından daha avantajlı olan yenilenemeyen enerji kaynaklarını tercih ettiği bilinmektedir. Ekonomik büyümenin itici güçleri arasında yer alan söz konusu bu enerji kaynakları, bir yandan ülkeleri büyüme hedeflerine ulaştırırken; diğer yandan çevresel bozulmaya neden olarak ekolojik ayak izini artırmakta ve gezegenin biyolojik taşıma kapasitesinin azalmasına neden olarak küresel ısınmanın tetikleyicisi konumunda yer almaktadır. Dolayısıyla bu tip kirletici kaynaklar yerine karbon nötr olan yenilenebilir enerji kaynaklarının kullanılması çevre kalitesinin artırılabilmesi ve ekolojik ayak izinin azaltılarak küresel ısınmanın önüne geçilebilmesi adına hayati önem arz etmektedir. Aynı zamanda yenilenemeyen enerji kaynaklarının belirli bir ömrünün olması, buna karşın yenilenebilir enerji kaynaklarının tükenme ihtimalinin bulunmaması enerji sürdürülebilirliği açısından da son derece önemlidir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, yenilenebilir enerji kaynakları kullanımının ekolojik ayak izi üzerindeki etkisini araştırmaktır. Bu doğrultuda gelişmekte olan ülkeler arasında yer alan Türkiye için 2000-2020 gözlem aralığı baz alınmıştır. Değişkenler arasındaki ilişki ise ARDL sınır testi ve Toda Yamamoto nedensellik testi ile araştırılmıştır. Elde edilen sonuçlara göre yenilenebilir enerji kaynakları kullanımı ekolojik ayak izini azaltırken, gezegenin biyolojik taşıma kapasitesini artırmaktadır.

Keywords

• Çevresel Teknoloji
• Ekolojik Ayak İzi
• Ekonomik Büyüme
• Finansal Gelişme
• Yenilenebilir Enerji

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