The relationship between carbon footprint and economic growth: A spatial econometric application on the Bandırma district

Technological developments that started with the industrial revolution have accelerated production and consumption activities. The acceleration of production activities leads to an increase in the use of fossil fuels, which are used as inputs in production. Fossil fuel use, in turn, leads to CO2 emissions. The increase in CO2 emissions causes both the depletion of limited natural resources and environmental pollution. The direct effect of CO2 emissions on the atmosphere, resulting in the formation of greenhouse gases, causes global warming and climate change problems that deeply affect human life. The carbon footprint, which represents the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere, is a widely used tool for measuring the environmental damage caused. Therefore, reducing the carbon footprint is a solution for preventing these problems. In this context, adopting a low-carbon production approach has become a necessity for countries. In this study, a spatial econometric application was made on the central neighborhoods of Bandırma district and the spatial relationship between per capita income and per capita carbon footprint variables was examined. The results of the analysis showed that there is a positive relationship between the district economy and the carbon footprint per capita. In other words, as the economy of the district grows, environmental pollution also increases. In this context, it is thought that the study will guide the district administrations and decision makers throughout the country in determining environmental protection policies and creating a sustainable economic growth strategy.