The Linkage between Truck Transport, Trade Openness, Economic Growth, and CO2 Emissions within the Scope of Green Deal Action Plan: An Empirical Investigation from Turkiye

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the transportation literature through questions with both the methods used and the econometric findings obtained by several analyses. In this context, CO2, GDP, freight transport (truck transport) and trade openness are considered as variables by performing multivariate regression, Johansen, Phillips-Ouliaris, Engle- Granger co-integration, FMOLS, DOLS, CCR and ARDL tests. According to results of econometric analysis truck transport, trade openness, economic growth caused environmental degradation and there is a stable long-run relationship among variables. All econometric models clearly confirm each other as empirically. The priority area in transportation is the reduction of emissions in road transportation, which has the largest share in greenhouse gas emissions. The steps to be taken at the global level in this field will accelerate the spread of hybrid and electric vehicles all over the world. The market share of electric vehicles is increasing day by day with the widespread use of electric vehicle technologies in recent years and many countries in the world turning to this new technology. With the interest in electric vehicles, it is observed that battery systems compatible with vehicles, engine systems, especially charging station systems have been developed, thus new market areas have emerged. Establishing the necessary infrastructure to achieve this transition is of great importance, and for this purpose, strategy development and planning activities for the development of electric vehicle and charging infrastructure should be aimed to be carried out to reduce carbon emissions. It is seen that there is also a feedback effect between the trade openness and CO2 emissions. Trade openness also affects economic growth by encouraging industrialization. Economic growth will also lead to an increase in energy demand. Similarly, insufficient energy supply will hinder economic growth by affecting exports and imports, and as a result, energy consumption will decrease. In this way, the Green Deal Action Plan will be a roadmap that is compatible with the transformation policies taking place in the world economy, especially in the EU, that encourages green investments, contributes to the transformation of global value chains, and thus supports value-added production. Thus, the green deal action plan can achieve the stated objectives.