Do Islamic Values Matter for Environmental Protection? Empirical Evidence and Policy Suggestions Based on a Global Dataset

Year 2023, Volume: 20 Issue: Human Behavior and Social Institutions, 881 - 897, 30.10.2023

Betül Can Zahoor Ahmed

https://doi.org/10.26466/opusjsr.1343467

Abstract

Environmental degradation increases all over the world with every passing day. Scholars have attempted to understand the parameters that impact environmental quality over the last three decades. The empirical models use different economic and technological parameters as explanatory variables to do so. However, in recent times, some studies mentioned the importance of social parameters in reducing environmental degradation. Religious principles and values are among the main social parameters that may impact the environment. Considering that climate change's repercussions are increasing daily, understanding the relationship between religion and the environment is essential for effective climate control measures and policies. Although environmental studies based on theological issues are common, there is hardly any empirical investigation related to eco-theological arguments with macro data. This study is the first initiative to uncover the environmental quality and religious teaching and values nexus by applying various panel econometric approaches at the global level. Accordingly, this study inspected the impact of Islamic Principles on the environment in 147 countries. The novel findings provided evidence that Islamic values help decrease CO2 emissions in 147 nations. These findings offer more effective practices and solutions to environmental problems.

Keywords

Enviromental Sociology, Sociology of Religion, Climate Change, Islamicity Index, Environmental Degradation, Religious Values

İslami Değerler Çevrenin Korunmasında Etkili midir? Küresel Veri Setine Dayalı Ampirik Göstergeler ve Politika Önerileri

Abstract

Çevresel bozulmalar tüm dünyada her geçen gün artmaktadır. Araştırmacılar son otuz yılda çevresel kaliteyi etkileyen parametreleri belirlemeye çalışmışlardır. Bu amaçla, ampirik modellerde açıklayıcı değişkenler olarak farklı ekonomik ve teknolojik parametreler kullanılmıştır. Ancak son zamanlarda, bazı çalışmalar çevresel bozulmayı azaltmak için sosyal parametrelerin öneminden bahsetmektedir. Bir toplumun ve o toplumun kültürünün en önemli unsurlarından olan dini değerler, çevreyi etkileyebilecek başlıca sosyal parametreler arasında yer almaktadır. İklim değişikliğinin yansımalarının her geçen gün arttığı düşünüldüğünde, din ve çevre arasındaki ilişkiyi anlamak, etkili iklim koruma önlemleri ve politikaları için elzemdir. Her ne kadar literatürde çevresel teoloji çalışmaları yaygın olsa bile, eko-teolojik argümanlarla ilgili makro verilerle yapılan ampirik araştırmalar yok denecek kadar azdır. Bu çalışma, küresel düzeyde çeşitli panel veri ekonometrik yaklaşımları uygulayarak çevre kalitesi ile dini prensip ve değerler arasındaki bağı ortaya çıkaran ilk girişimdir. Buna göre, bu çalışma 147 ülkede İslami ilkelerin çevre üzerindeki etkisini incelemiştir. Elde edilen bulgular, İslami değerlerin 147 ülkeden oluşan panelde karbon emisyonlarını azaltmaya yardımcı olduğuna dair kanıtlar sağlamıştır. Araştırmanın sonucunda söz konusu bulgular perspektifinde, çevre sorunlarına yönelik politika önerileri ve çözümleri sunulmuştur

Keywords

Çevre Sosyolojisi; Din Sosyolojisi; İslamilik Endeksi; Çevresel Bozulma; Dini Değerler; İklim Değişikliği.

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