Can Trade Openness Foster a Greener Future? Evidence from APEC Economies on Macroeconomic Drivers of Environmental Sustainability

Abstract

This study investigates the dynamic effects of trade openness, income level, renewable energy consumption, and R&D expenditure on environmental degradation in 16 selected Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member countries over the period 1990–2023. Using total greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) per capita as a comprehensive measure of environmental degradation, the analysis incorporates FDI, industrialization, and urbanization as control variables to account for broader macroeconomic and structural influences. This study employs a robust econometric framework including Prais–Winsten regression, Panel-Corrected Standard Errors (PCSE), Random Effects Generalized Least Squares (RE-GLS), and Robust Least Squares (RLS) estimation models. The empirical results reveal that trade openness has a mitigating effect on greenhouse gas emissions, suggesting that increased trade may promote cleaner technologies and encourage more environmentally friendly production processes within APEC economies. In contrast, income level and industrialization are found to significantly lead to environmental degradation, while renewable energy consumption exhibits a consistent and significant negative relationship with GHG emissions. R&D expenditure highlights the role of innovation in reducing emissions in the RLS estimation, but its effect remains model-dependent. Moreover, Granger causality results conclude the bidirectional relationships between most variables and environmental degradation. These results underscore the importance of integrated policies that promote renewable energy, green industrial strategies, and sustainable trade practices. This study offers empirical insights into environmental governance in the APEC region and contributes to the evolving discourse on balancing economic development with ecological sustainability.

Keywords

• Trade Openness
• Environmental Sustainability
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• Renewable Energy Consumption
• APEC Economies

Ticaret Açıklığı Daha Yeşil Bir Geleceği Teşvik Edebilir mi? APEC Ekonomilerinden Çevresel Sürdürülebilirliğin Makroekonomik Belirleyicilerine Dair Kanıtlar

Öz

Bu çalışma, 1990–2023 dönemi için seçilmiş 16 Asya-Pasifik Ekonomik İşbirliği (APEC) üyesi ülkede ticari açıklık, gelir düzeyi, yenilenebilir enerji tüketimi ve AR-GE harcamalarının çevresel bozulma üzerindeki dinamik etkilerini incelemektedir. Çevresel bozulmanın kapsamlı bir göstergesi olarak kişi başına toplam sera gazı (GHG) emisyonları kullanılmış, ayrıca daha geniş makroekonomik ve yapısal etkileri dikkate almak amacıyla doğrudan yabancı yatırım (DYY), sanayileşme ve kentleşme kontrol değişkenleri olarak analize dâhil edilmiştir. Çalışmada Prais–Winsten regresyonu, Panel-Corrected Standard Errors (PCSE), Random Effects Generalized Least Squares (RE-GLS) ve Robust Least Squares (RLS) tahmin yöntemlerini içeren güçlü bir ekonometrik çerçeve kullanılmıştır. Ampirik bulgular, ticari açıklığın sera gazı emisyonlarını azaltıcı bir etkisi olduğunu ortaya koymakta; bu da artan ticaretin daha temiz teknolojileri teşvik edebileceğini ve APEC ekonomilerinde daha çevre dostu üretim süreçlerini destekleyebileceğini düşündürmektedir. Buna karşılık, gelir düzeyi ve sanayileşmenin çevresel bozulmayı önemli ölçüde artırdığı, yenilenebilir enerji tüketiminin ise GHG emisyonlarıyla tutarlı ve anlamlı bir şekilde negatif ilişki gösterdiği bulunmuştur. Ar-Ge harcamaları, RLS tahmininde emisyonların azaltılmasında yeniliğin rolünü vurgulasa da etkisinin modele bağlı olduğu görülmektedir. Ayrıca Granger nedensellik testleri, çoğu değişken ile çevresel bozulma arasında çift yönlü ilişkiler bulunduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. Bu sonuçlar, yenilenebilir enerjiyi, yeşil sanayi stratejilerini ve sürdürülebilir ticaret uygulamalarını teşvik eden bütüncül politikaların önemini vurgulamaktadır. Çalışma, APEC bölgesinde çevresel yönetişim konusunda ampirik bulgular sunmakta ve ekonomik kalkınma ile ekolojik sürdürülebilirliğin dengelenmesine yönelik gelişen tartışmalara katkıda bulunmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Ticaret Açıklığı
• Çevresel Sürdürülebilirlik
• Sera Gazı Emisyonları
• Yenilenebilir Enerji Tüketimi
• APEC Ekonomileri

Kaynakça

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