The Nexus of Agricultural Efficiency, Renewable Energy Consumption, and Climate Change in Turkey

Abstract

Agricultural practices and renewable energy consumption have a major impact on the absorption of heat-trapping greenhouse gases and are closely linked to climate change. The impact of agriculture on climate change is due to the GHGs such as methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide carbon dioxide that are released into the atmosphere during the agricultural practices. Therefore, to avoid undesirable effects of agriculture on climate change, it is important to understand the relationship between agricultural activities and greenhouse gases. In this study, we analyze the long-term effects of agricultural efficiency, fertilizer use, and renewable energy consumption on total carbon emissions in Turkey. The analysis is performed in two steps. In the first step, the values of agricultural efficiency are calculated using the CEE method. In the second step, ARDL and NARDL models are used to estimate the long-term effects of agricultural efficiency, fertilizer use, renewable energy consumption, GDP and population on CO2 emissions. The results show that improving agricultural efficiency and increasing the share of renewable energy would reduce carbon emissions, while fertilizer use, GDP, and population have negative long-term effects on CO2. In addition, the results of the Wald test indicate asymmetric long-term effects of renewable energy, agricultural efficiency, and fertilizer use on climate change.