Özet:

This study aims to conduct an ecological balance analysis and investigate the possible decoupling between ecological footprint and real income for BRICs and Turkey from 1992–2018. Per capita bio-capacity and per capita ecological footprint were compared regarding the ecological balance analysis. In the secondary analysis, the potential decoupling between per capita ecological footprint and per capita real income was investigated with the help of the decoupling factor. It was revealed in the study results that Brazil and Russia have ecological reserves, whereas India, China, and Turkey have an ecological deficit. An absolute decoupling between the per capita real income and ecological footprint of Brazil and Russia was demonstrated in the decoupling factor analysis findings. However, relative decoupling occurred between the same variables of India, China, and Turkey. The decoupling factor results were optimistic. Nonetheless, concern about environmental quality was raised because of the continuous decline in the bio-capacity of Brazil and the continuous increase in the ecological footprint of China and India. However, the biological capacity of Turkey is decreasing, while its ecological footprint is increasing. The declining environmental quality in the other four developing countries, excluding Russia, is worrying. Therefore, immediate measures are gaining importance to ensure environmental sustainability.

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