Determinants of Carbon Emissions: Spatial Findings for Selected European Union Countries

Yıl 2023, , 388 - 409, 27.09.2023

Burcu Berke , Gül Şerife Huyugüzel Kışla

https://doi.org/10.17065/huniibf.1150730

Öz

One of the main reasons for the increasing climate change in the world is the "increase of carbon emissions". Although the traditional determinants of carbon emissions are widely researched in the literature, the possible effects of financial development, renewable energy and income inequality on these emissions are less discussed. In this context, the main purpose of the study is to investigate the determinants of carbon emissions for selected European Union countries in the period of 1991-2018 using the spatial panel data method. In the study, after controlling for the effects of other control variables (urbanization and growth), it is concluded that carbon emissions increase as income inequality and financial development increase, while these emissions decrease or environmental quality improves as renewable energy consumption increases. In addition, the "environmental Kuznets curve" hypothesis, which is based on the idea that carbon emissions will increase up to a certain threshold value and then decrease as the growth rate increases, seems to be valid. These results reveal that the reduction of climate change as well as carbon emissions for selected European Union countries depends on policies that will support renewable energy. Thus, shifts from carbon-intensive coal to low-carbon gas, or from fossil fuels to nuclear or renewable energy can reduce the level of overall global emissions.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Carbon Emission, Renewable Energy, Financial Development, Spatial Analysis, European Union

KARBON EMİSYONLARININ BELİRLEYİCİLERİ: SEÇİLMİŞ AVRUPA BİRLİĞİ ÜLKELERİ İÇİN MEKÂNSAL BULGULAR

Öz

Dünyada giderek artan iklim değişikliğinin temel nedenlerinden biri “karbon emisyonlarının yükselmesi”dir. Literatürde karbon emisyonlarının geleneksel belirleyicilerinin yaygın olarak araştırılmasına karşın, finansal gelişme, yenilenebilir enerji ve gelir eşitsizliğinin bu emisyonlarda yaratabileceği olası etkiler daha az tartışılmaktadır. Bu bağlamda çalışmanın temel amacı 1991-2018 döneminde seçilmiş Avrupa Birliği ülkeleri için karbon emisyonlarının belirleyicilerini mekânsal panel veri yöntemini kullanarak araştırmaktır. Çalışmada diğer kontrol değişkenlerinin (kentleşme ve büyüme) etkileri kontrol edildikten sonra gelir eşitsizliği ve finansal gelişme arttıkça karbon emisyonları artarken, yenilenebilir enerji tüketimi arttıkça bu emisyonların azaldığı veya çevresel kalitenin iyileştiği sonucuna varılmaktadır. Ayrıca, büyüme oranı arttıkça karbon emisyonlarının belli bir eşik değere kadar artıp daha sonra azalacağı fikrine dayanan “çevresel Kuznets eğrisi” hipotezinin de geçerli olduğu görülmektedir. Bu sonuçlar, seçilmiş Avrupa Birliği ülkeleri için karbon emisyonlarının yanı sıra iklim değişikliklerinin azaltılabilmesinin yenilenebilir enerjiyi destekleyecek politikalara bağlı olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. Dolayısıyla, karbon yoğun kömürden düşük karbonlu gaza veya fosil yakıttan nükleer enerji veya yenilenebilir enerji doğru kaymalar, toplam küresel emisyonlarının düzeyini azaltabilir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Karbon Emisyonu, Yenilenebilir Enerji, Finansal Gelişme, Mekansal Analiz, Avrupa Birliği

Kaynakça

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