Agricultural Value Added, Renewable Energy, and the Environmental Kuznets Curve: Evidence from Turkey

In this study, the relationship between economic growth and carbon emissions for the period 1968–2022 in Turkey was evaluated within the framework of the EKC (Environmental Kuznets Curve) hypothesis. In addition, the impacts of renewable energy consumption and agricultural value added on carbon emis...

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Main Authors: Neslihan Koç, Özgür Emre Koç, Florina Oana Virlanuta, Orhan Orçun Bıtrak, Uğur Çiçek, Radu Octavian Kovacs, Valentina-Alina Vasile (Dobrea), Tincuta Vrabie
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Energies
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/13/3291
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author Neslihan Koç
Özgür Emre Koç
Florina Oana Virlanuta
Orhan Orçun Bıtrak
Uğur Çiçek
Radu Octavian Kovacs
Valentina-Alina Vasile (Dobrea)
Tincuta Vrabie
author_facet Neslihan Koç
Özgür Emre Koç
Florina Oana Virlanuta
Orhan Orçun Bıtrak
Uğur Çiçek
Radu Octavian Kovacs
Valentina-Alina Vasile (Dobrea)
Tincuta Vrabie
author_sort Neslihan Koç
collection DOAJ
description In this study, the relationship between economic growth and carbon emissions for the period 1968–2022 in Turkey was evaluated within the framework of the EKC (Environmental Kuznets Curve) hypothesis. In addition, the impacts of renewable energy consumption and agricultural value added on carbon emissions were analyzed using the ARDL bounds testing approach. The validity of the results was also tested using the FMOLS and DOLS methods. The findings confirmed the existence of a cointegration relationship between carbon emissions and per capita income, renewable energy consumption, and agricultural value added. Long-term analyses indicate that renewable energy consumption reduces carbon emissions, whereas growth in agricultural value added leads to an increase in emissions. In addition, it has been determined that the EKC hypothesis is valid in both the long and short terms and that increases in per capita income raise emissions up to a certain threshold and have a mitigating effect when this threshold is exceeded. The results of the short-term analysis showed that the effects of renewable energy consumption vary across periods, and that agricultural value added increases emissions in the short term. This study provides empirical evidence for Turkey by incorporating sectoral variables within the EKC framework and offers meaningful insights for policymakers regarding the environmental impacts of agricultural value added and renewable energy use in the context of a developing country. Accordingly, fiscal policy instruments such as green taxation, carbon credit trading mechanisms, and financial and agricultural subsidies should be more effectively utilized in Turkey to support structural transformation in agriculture and promote the use of clean energy, in line with the findings that suggest the need for targeted agricultural and energy policies aligned with Turkey’s SDG commitments.
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spelling doaj-art-95e695ce1d27436fb790ff5a2873687d2025-08-20T03:17:07ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-06-011813329110.3390/en18133291Agricultural Value Added, Renewable Energy, and the Environmental Kuznets Curve: Evidence from TurkeyNeslihan Koç0Özgür Emre Koç1Florina Oana Virlanuta2Orhan Orçun Bıtrak3Uğur Çiçek4Radu Octavian Kovacs5Valentina-Alina Vasile (Dobrea)6Tincuta Vrabie7Department of Public Finance, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Hitit University, 19030 Corum, TurkeyDepartment of Public Finance, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Hitit University, 19030 Corum, TurkeyDepartment of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, “Dunărea de Jos” University of Galați, 800008 Galați, RomaniaDepartment of Banking and Insurance, Yalvaç Vocational School, Isparta University of Applied Sciences, 32400 Yalvaç, TurkeyDepartment of Public Finance, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Burdur Mehmet Akif University, 15030 Burdur, TurkeyDoctoral School of Economic Sciences, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, “Dunărea de Jos” University of Galați, 800008 Galați, RomaniaDoctoral School of Economic Sciences, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, “Dunărea de Jos” University of Galați, 800008 Galați, RomaniaDepartment of History, Philosophy and Sociology, Faculty of History, Philosophy and Theology, “Dunărea de Jos” University of Galați, 800008 Galați, RomaniaIn this study, the relationship between economic growth and carbon emissions for the period 1968–2022 in Turkey was evaluated within the framework of the EKC (Environmental Kuznets Curve) hypothesis. In addition, the impacts of renewable energy consumption and agricultural value added on carbon emissions were analyzed using the ARDL bounds testing approach. The validity of the results was also tested using the FMOLS and DOLS methods. The findings confirmed the existence of a cointegration relationship between carbon emissions and per capita income, renewable energy consumption, and agricultural value added. Long-term analyses indicate that renewable energy consumption reduces carbon emissions, whereas growth in agricultural value added leads to an increase in emissions. In addition, it has been determined that the EKC hypothesis is valid in both the long and short terms and that increases in per capita income raise emissions up to a certain threshold and have a mitigating effect when this threshold is exceeded. The results of the short-term analysis showed that the effects of renewable energy consumption vary across periods, and that agricultural value added increases emissions in the short term. This study provides empirical evidence for Turkey by incorporating sectoral variables within the EKC framework and offers meaningful insights for policymakers regarding the environmental impacts of agricultural value added and renewable energy use in the context of a developing country. Accordingly, fiscal policy instruments such as green taxation, carbon credit trading mechanisms, and financial and agricultural subsidies should be more effectively utilized in Turkey to support structural transformation in agriculture and promote the use of clean energy, in line with the findings that suggest the need for targeted agricultural and energy policies aligned with Turkey’s SDG commitments.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/13/3291environmental Kuznets curverenewable energyagricultural value addedcarbon emissionsARDL bounds testingsustainable development
spellingShingle Neslihan Koç
Özgür Emre Koç
Florina Oana Virlanuta
Orhan Orçun Bıtrak
Uğur Çiçek
Radu Octavian Kovacs
Valentina-Alina Vasile (Dobrea)
Tincuta Vrabie
Agricultural Value Added, Renewable Energy, and the Environmental Kuznets Curve: Evidence from Turkey
Energies
environmental Kuznets curve
renewable energy
agricultural value added
carbon emissions
ARDL bounds testing
sustainable development
title Agricultural Value Added, Renewable Energy, and the Environmental Kuznets Curve: Evidence from Turkey
title_full Agricultural Value Added, Renewable Energy, and the Environmental Kuznets Curve: Evidence from Turkey
title_fullStr Agricultural Value Added, Renewable Energy, and the Environmental Kuznets Curve: Evidence from Turkey
title_full_unstemmed Agricultural Value Added, Renewable Energy, and the Environmental Kuznets Curve: Evidence from Turkey
title_short Agricultural Value Added, Renewable Energy, and the Environmental Kuznets Curve: Evidence from Turkey
title_sort agricultural value added renewable energy and the environmental kuznets curve evidence from turkey
topic environmental Kuznets curve
renewable energy
agricultural value added
carbon emissions
ARDL bounds testing
sustainable development
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/13/3291
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