How Militarization Affects Environmental Pollution in MENA Countries

Yıl 2022, Cilt: 42 Sayı: 1, 217 - 235, 29.03.2022

Salih Türedi , Furkan Yıldız

Öz

The main purpose of this study is to investigate whether militarization activities have caused environmental pollution in the MENA region between 1995 and 2018. To this end, the two-step system generalized method of moments (GMM) was used. The dependent variable of the study is CO2 emissions, which represents the environmental pollution. The main independent variable of the study was chosen as the ratio of military expenditures to GDP, which represents military activities. Other independent variables used in the study are economic globalization index, natural resource abundance, GDP per capita, trade openness, and total capital formation. According to the study results, a significant positive relationship exists for CO2 emissions with the ratio of military expenditures to GDP, natural resource abundance, GDP per capita, and trade openness; a significant negative relationship exists for CO2 emissions with economic globalization and total capital formation. According to these results, having military expenditures reduced, fossil energy consumption replaced with renewable energy, and policies made that promote economic growth as well as environmental sustainability are crucial for reducing CO2 emissions.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Militarization, Environmental Pollution, MENA, CO2 Emissions, Two-Step System GMM

Militarizasyon MENA Ülkelerinde Çevresel Kirliliği Nasıl Etkiliyor?

Öz

Bu çalışmanın temel amacı, 1995-2018 yılları arasında MENA ülkelerinde militarizasyonun çevresel kirliliğe neden olup olmadığını analiz etmektir. Bu amaca yönelik çalışmada iki aşamalı sistem genelleştirilmiş momentler metodu (GMM) kullanılmıştır. Çalışmada bağımlı değişken çevresel kirliliği temsil eden CO2 emisyonudur. Temel bağımsız değişken olan militarizasyonun göstergesi olarak ise askerî harcamaların GSYH’ye oranı kullanılmıştır. Ayrıca çalışmada ekonomik küreselleşme, doğal kaynak bolluğu, kişi başı GSYH, ticari açıklık ve toplam sermaye oluşumu kontrol değişkenler olarak kullanılmıştır. Elde edilen sonuçlara göre, CO2 emisyonu ile militarizasyon, doğal kaynak bolluğu, kişi başı GSYH ve ticari açıklık arasında anlamlı pozitif, CO2 emisyonu ile ekonomik küreselleşme ve toplam sermaye oluşumu arasında anlamlı negatif ilişki bulunmaktadır. Bu sonuçlardan hareketle, MENA ülkelerinde çevresel kirliliğin azaltılabilmesi için askerî harcamaların azaltılmasının, fosil (yenilenemez) enerji tüketiminin yenilenebilir enerji ile ikamesinin, iktisadi büyüme ile çevresel sürdürülebilirliği birlikte gözeten politikaların önem arz ettiği söylenebilir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Militarizasyon, Çevresel Kirlilik, MENA, CO2 Emisyonu, İki Aşamalı Sistem-GMM

Kaynakça

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