The Impact of Economic Growth, Globalization, and Land Transport Network on CO2 Emissions in Türkiye; Improved Empirical Results

Abstract

Abstract The aim of this study is to examine the effects of transportation activities, which are necessary for economic and commercial development, on greenhouse gas and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and to evaluate changes in CO2 emissions from road and rail transportation in Türkiye between 1977 and 2019 according to economic growth and globalization models. In this context, the data were analyzed using stationarity, time series analysis, unit root tests, boxplot, and statistical methods. As a result, it was seen that a very strong positive correlation exists between carbon emissions and economic growth, globalization, railway length, and highway length. The conclusion that all the variables are stationary at the first difference shows that the most suitable model in statistical terms is the Johansen cointegration test model. Accordingly, carbon emissions in Türkiye show that a long-running relationship exists between economic growth, globalization, railway length, and highway length variables. Box charts show that since the 1990s, economic growth, globalization, and increases in both road and railway lengths have directly and proportionally caused increases in carbon emissions. According to the results obtained, considering both environmental health and public health, there is a necessity reducin carbon emissions in order to ensure sustainable development.