Title: The relationship between income level and CFP level of the provinces in Turkey: a case study

Authors: Emine Elmaslar Özbaş; Nüket Sivri; Batuhan Sarıtürk; Atakan Öngen; H. Kurtuluş Özcan; Dursun Zafer Şeker

Addresses: Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Istanbul University, 34320, Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey ' Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Istanbul University, 34320, Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey; Center for Earth and Environmental Science, Istanbul University, 34320, Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey ' Department of Geomatics Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, 34469, Turkey ' Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Istanbul University, 34320, Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey; Center for Earth and Environmental Science, Istanbul University, 34320, Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey ' Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Istanbul University, 34320, Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey ' Department of Geomatics Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, 34469, Turkey

Abstract: This study determines the distribution of carbon footprint values (CFP) in Turkey by income levels, gender, age group, provinces where people live and the geographical regions of these provinces. In addition, % distribution of human activities which lead to CFP (food, travel, home, stuff) has been analysed. The carbon emission values assessed in this study have been compared with annual carbon emission distributions of various countries. In comparison by income levels, it was observed that mainly consumption-based usages (48%) take part in spending of people in the lowest income section while travel costs (42%) of people having high income have a significant contribution to CFP values. In assessment by age groups, it was observed that the highest CFP value is obtained by those aged 40 or older (in average; 17.1 tons CO2 per capita). In assessment of CFP values on the basis of geographical region and province, it was seen that high CFP values which result from the fuel type used for heating in eastern regions of Turkey replace CFP values related to transportation in western parts. In Turkey, annual carbon emission value is 15.1 tons CO2 per capita in average. This value is similar to annual carbon emission per capita of European countries such as Spain, France.

Keywords: carbon footprint; CFP; Turkey; CO2; carbon dioxide; carbon emissions; income level; gender; age group; provinces; regions; energy consumption; travel costs; fuel types; transport emissions.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGW.2017.082776

International Journal of Global Warming, 2017 Vol.11 No.3, pp.294 - 304

Received: 08 Dec 2014
Accepted: 29 Jun 2015

Published online: 12 Mar 2017 *

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