Research Article

Sustainable Transportation and Environmental Quality in Germany: Quantitative Evidence on the Role of International Logistics, Trade, and Investment

Volume: 9 Number: 4 December 31, 2025

Sustainable Transportation and Environmental Quality in Germany: Quantitative Evidence on the Role of International Logistics, Trade, and Investment

Abstract

Environmental sustainability is a topic of global debate. Environmental degradation, a frequently discussed topic within the context of sustainable development goals, has been frequently discussed in the context of economic growth and energy consumption. However, the impact of the logistics sector on environmental pollution has received relatively limited discussion. This study examines the impact of logistics activities, trade openness, foreign direct investment, and economic growth on environmental degradation. This research, conducted on Germany, a leading country in the logistics field, is expected to fill a gap in the relevant literature. In this study, the stationarity level of the variables logistics, trade openness, foreign direct investment, economic growth, and environmental degradation for the period 1980-2024 was determined using traditional and Fourier-based unit root and stationarity tests. Based on the results, the long-term relationship between the variables was investigated using the A-ARDL cointegration method proposed by Sam et al. (2019). FMOLS and CCR estimation were used as long-term estimators. The DOLS method was used as a robustness test. The A-ARDL cointegration test findings in the study revealed a long-run relationship between the variables logistics, trade openness, foreign direct investment, economic growth, and environmental degradation. In addition to the FMOLS and CCR tests used in coefficient estimation, the DOLS robustness test results are consistent. The results indicate that logistics activities increase environmental pollution. Conversely, increasing trade openness reduces environmental degradation. Furthermore, increased economic growth improves environmental quality. Given that Germany has a strong presence among developed countries, particularly in logistics activities and export-led growth, the findings of this study provide important insights for policy makers.

Keywords

References

  1. [1] Dam M. M., Durmaz A., Bekun F. V., Tiwari A. K. The role of green growth and institutional quality on environmental sus-tainability: A comparison of CO2 emissions, ecological foot-print and inverted load capacity factor for OECD coun-tries, Journal of Environmental Management. 2024;365:121551. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121551
  2. [2] Júnior R. C. F., Lima C. P., Viani R. B., da Fonseca A. S. The relationship between innovation ecosystem and bioeconomy: A bibliometric review. International Journal of Innova-tion. 2025;13(2):1-26. https://doi.org/10.5585/2025.26936
  3. [3] Hughes L., Dwivedi Y. K., Misra S. K., Rana N. P., Raghavan V., Akella V. Blockchain research, practice and policy: Appli-cations, benefits, limitations, emerging research themes and re-search agenda. International journal of information management. 2019;49:114-129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2019.02.005
  4. [4] Alharbi T., Abdalrahman A., Mostafa M. H. Data-driven EV charging infrastructure with uncertainty based on a spatial–temporal flow-driven (STFD) models considering batter-ies. Scientific Reports. 2025;15(1):27056. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12079-3
  5. [5] Li X., Zhu G., Sun J., Wu L., Peng Y. Research on the Coordi-nation of Transportation Network and Ecological Corridors Based on Maxent Model and Circuit Theory in the Giant Panda National Park, China. Land. 2025;14(7):1465. https://doi.org/10.3390/land14071465
  6. [6] Eurostat, 2023. Freight Transport Statistics - Modal Split. Freight transport statistics - modal split - Statistics Explained - Eurostat, Available on the Internet: Freight transport statistics - modal split - Statistics Explained - Eurostat (13.08.2025).
  7. [7] Alarcón F. E., Sauma E., Alias C. The competitiveness of electric trucks in multimodal networks: A case study of integra-tion with inland waterways. Journal of Transport Geography. 2025;126:104252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2025.104252
  8. [8] Rezaei J., van Roekel W. S., Tavasszy L. Measuring the relative importance of the logistics performance index indicators using Best Worst Method. Transport policy. 2018;68:158-169, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2018.05.007.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Hybrid and Electric Vehicles and Powertrains

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

December 31, 2025

Submission Date

August 14, 2025

Acceptance Date

December 14, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 9 Number: 4

APA
Gürsoy, İ., & Özbek, S. (2025). Sustainable Transportation and Environmental Quality in Germany: Quantitative Evidence on the Role of International Logistics, Trade, and Investment. International Journal of Automotive Science And Technology, 9(4), 588-601. https://doi.org/10.30939/ijastech..1765276
AMA
1.Gürsoy İ, Özbek S. Sustainable Transportation and Environmental Quality in Germany: Quantitative Evidence on the Role of International Logistics, Trade, and Investment. IJASTECH. 2025;9(4):588-601. doi:10.30939/ijastech.1765276
Chicago
Gürsoy, İpek, and Sefa Özbek. 2025. “Sustainable Transportation and Environmental Quality in Germany: Quantitative Evidence on the Role of International Logistics, Trade, and Investment”. International Journal of Automotive Science And Technology 9 (4): 588-601. https://doi.org/10.30939/ijastech. 1765276.
EndNote
Gürsoy İ, Özbek S (December 1, 2025) Sustainable Transportation and Environmental Quality in Germany: Quantitative Evidence on the Role of International Logistics, Trade, and Investment. International Journal of Automotive Science And Technology 9 4 588–601.
IEEE
[1]İ. Gürsoy and S. Özbek, “Sustainable Transportation and Environmental Quality in Germany: Quantitative Evidence on the Role of International Logistics, Trade, and Investment”, IJASTECH, vol. 9, no. 4, pp. 588–601, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.30939/ijastech..1765276.
ISNAD
Gürsoy, İpek - Özbek, Sefa. “Sustainable Transportation and Environmental Quality in Germany: Quantitative Evidence on the Role of International Logistics, Trade, and Investment”. International Journal of Automotive Science And Technology 9/4 (December 1, 2025): 588-601. https://doi.org/10.30939/ijastech. 1765276.
JAMA
1.Gürsoy İ, Özbek S. Sustainable Transportation and Environmental Quality in Germany: Quantitative Evidence on the Role of International Logistics, Trade, and Investment. IJASTECH. 2025;9:588–601.
MLA
Gürsoy, İpek, and Sefa Özbek. “Sustainable Transportation and Environmental Quality in Germany: Quantitative Evidence on the Role of International Logistics, Trade, and Investment”. International Journal of Automotive Science And Technology, vol. 9, no. 4, Dec. 2025, pp. 588-01, doi:10.30939/ijastech. 1765276.
Vancouver
1.İpek Gürsoy, Sefa Özbek. Sustainable Transportation and Environmental Quality in Germany: Quantitative Evidence on the Role of International Logistics, Trade, and Investment. IJASTECH. 2025 Dec. 1;9(4):588-601. doi:10.30939/ijastech. 1765276


International Journal of Automotive Science and Technology (IJASTECH) is published by Society of Automotive Engineers Turkey

by.png