Does Globalization Increase Environmental Pollution? Evidence from Turkey

The effects of globalization and economic growth on environmental pollution are still a matter of debate among researchers. In the study, Turkey, which has developed its economic cooperations and trade relations with other countries and become globalized after World War II, which defined export-oriented growth as its target, and which has a carbon-dense economy, is being handled. In the study, the effects of the variables of globalization, primary energy consumption, trade openness, urbanization and economic growth on environmental pollution (CO2) are tested econometrically, by using annual data of Turkey between 1970-2020. During testing the relations between variables, ARDL method has been used. According to the results, both short-run and long-run relations have been observed between variables, and coefficients have been found statistically significant. It is resulted in the model that independent variables of energy consumption, urbanization and economic growth increase the dependent variable-environmental pollution. Toda- Yamamoto causality test has been applied which is preferred at most in situations that ARDL method is practised. According to causality test results, causality relations have been found between variables. In this context, suggestions are made to policy makers in order to find solutions and take cautions for environmental pollution which has a great importance both for natural and economic life.