The Link between Environmental Degradation and Aging: An Application on Türkiye

Discussions on climate change, environmental degradation, and ecological footprint have gained significant momentum. In this sense, understanding the carbon footprint, an essential component of the ecological footprint, is crucial in solving the environmental crisis. An aging population leads to changes in household consumption and economic activity. Especially in developing countries, an aging population has been observed to have a reducing effect on carbon footprint. The impact of the aging process on the carbon footprint has different consequences for different levels and stages of development. This study uses time series analysis to research the connection between carbon footprint and aging, urbanization, and industrialization in Türkiye. Cointegration and coefficient estimation were performed based on data from 1969 to 2022. The FMOLS technique was used in coefficient estimation. The study on the environmental degradation and aging in Türkiye found that urban population and industrial growth increase the carbon footprint, but the footprint of the elderly population decreases.