Abstract:

This study aims to bring a new perspective to the ongoing debate in the literature on whether the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis is related to the environmental degradation indicators used. In this context, the focus is on ecological footprint and CO2 emissions. 1986-2018 for the dependent variable of CO2 emissions; For the ecological footprint dependent variable, annual data for the period 1986-2016 were used. In the study, the effects of economic growth, energy consumption and population density on CO2 emissions and ecological footprints in 9 N-11 countries were investigated during the relevant periods. CIPS unit root test and Westerlund cointegration test were used as methods, which take into account cross-sectional dependence. In the estimation method, the AMG and CCEMG methods, which take into account the cross-sectional dependence and slope heterogeneity, were used. Empirical findings revealed that the EKC hypothesis is not valid in N-11 countries. In addition, it has been determined that energy consumption has a positive effect on CO2 emissions and ecological footprint as expected, while population density does not have a statistically significant effect. In this article, a set of policy recommendations for sustainable environmental and economic development have been made to policy makers.

Keywords: