Abstract:

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of export, import, and renewable energy consumption on the ecological footprint for the period 1990-2015 in Turkey. Methodology - In this study, firstly Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) and Phillips-Perron (PP) unit root tests were applied. Then, long-term relationships between variables were investigated by Johansen Cointegration Test. Finally, the long-term elasticity coefficients were estimated with the Fully Modified Ordinary Least Square (FMOLS), Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS) and Canonical Cointegrating Regression (CCR) Models. Findings- The ADF and PP unit root test results showed that the variables generally contain unit root at level value. When the first difference of the variables was taken, the series became stationary. The Johansen Cointegration Test findings demonstrated that there is a cointegration relationship between the variables. According to the FMOLS, DOLS and CCR models that predicted long-term elasticity coefficients, while the renewable energy consumption and export reduced the ecological footprint, the import increased the ecological footprint. Conclusion- The analysis results showed that the variables of export and renewable energy consumption improve environmental quality in Turkey. The rate of consumption of natural resources is greater than the production rate in Turkey. This situation gradually increases the ecological deficit in the economy. The success of the economy in sustainable development depends on reducing the ecological deficit. First of all, dependency on imported resources should be reduced, and investments aimed at preserving and increasing biological capacity should be increased. In addition, priority should be given to using renewable energy rather than fossil-based energy consumption. Economic policies that can be implemented in this direction have a critical importance.

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