Kümeleme ve kantil yaklaşımıyla CO₂ emisyonlarının belirleyicileri: Seçilmiş ülkeler uygulaması

Environmental quality stands out as a critical factor in achieving sustainable development goals on a global scale. This study examines the determinants of CO₂ emissions within the framework of economic growth, renewable energy use, urbanisation, trade openness, and foreign direct investment. As a method, k-means clustering and panel quantile regression are employed in conjunction, thereby making an original contribution to the existing literature. Through this approach, the heterogeneous effects of the independent variables across country groups with different emission levels are analysed in detail, yielding deeper findings that extend beyond merely average effects. The results of the panel quantile regression reveal that the impact of each independent variable on CO₂ emissions exhibits significant differences among the clusters formed based on the similarities among countries. The findings emphasise the importance of energy policies and sustainable development strategies for reducing CO₂ emissions, providing policymakers with a new perspective.