The impact of freedom of expression and belief on CO2 emissions: An examination of the group of seven

ÜZAR U.

Journal of Environmental Management, cilt.367, 2024 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 367
  • Basım Tarihi: 2024
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121952
  • Dergi Adı: Journal of Environmental Management
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, International Bibliography of Social Sciences, PASCAL, Aerospace Database, Agricultural & Environmental Science Database, Aqualine, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, Communication Abstracts, Environment Index, Geobase, Greenfile, Index Islamicus, Metadex, Pollution Abstracts, Public Affairs Index, Veterinary Science Database, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: CO2 emissions, Economic growth, Energy consumption, Freedom of expression and belief, Group of seven, Trade openness
  • Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Growing concerns about the level of CO2 emissions have made identifying the key drivers of the emission issue a critical agenda item. These developments have turned identifying drivers of CO2 emissions into a popular research area. Researchers have been attempting to determine the root causes of CO2 emissions for quite some time. While many economic factors have been associated with the emission levels, researchers' interest in undiscovered factors has brought political factors to the forefront. Although some institutional/political factors have been linked to CO2 emissions in the relevant literature, the specific impact of freedom of expression and belief (FEB) has yet to be examined. Notably, as democracies' provision of economic freedoms motivates production and consumption, exerting pressure on the environment, FEB can balance it. This study is a pioneering attempt to seek answers to this question. By assigning a specific role to FEB, the research seeks to determine the key factors influencing CO2 emissions in the Group of Seven (G7) between 2006 and 2022. Results suggest that FEB might be crucial in lowering CO2 emissions, whereas economic expansion and energy use tend to increase CO2 emissions. However, the impact of trade openness has yet to be found to be significant. Thus, securing and enhancing FEB could lead to significant environmental gains in G7 countries and globally.