The relationship between defence expenditures and carbon emissions in selected MENA countries: Panel data analysis

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to reveal the impact of defence expenditures on carbon emissions in selected MENA countries between 1990-2020. To this end, Panel ARDL/PMG (Autoregressive Distributed Lag) was used in the study. In the study, carbon emissions served as the dependent variable, while defence expenditures and real gross domestic product per capita were used as independent variables. The study's findings indicate that the impact of defence expenditures and real gross domestic product per capita on carbon emissions is positive and statistically significant. A 1% increase in defence expenditure increases carbon emissions by 0,09%, while a 1% increase in real gross domestic product per capita increases carbon emissions by 0,63%. These empirical findings indicate that for MENA countries to achieve their sustainable development goals, the balance between defence expenditures and environmental impacts must be strategically managed. In this context, integrating ecological sustainability principles into national security strategies is crucial. Furthermore, to mitigate the environmental effects stemming from the defence sector, incorporating green technologies into defence industry processes is a critical step. These approaches will not only contribute to reducing carbon emissions but also enhance the region's long-term environmental resilience.