Evaluation of Low Carbon Development of European Union Countries and Turkey Using Grey Relational Analysis

Abstract

Energy, especially fossil fuels, plays an important role in ensuring economic growth and improving people's quality of life. Carbon dioxide emissions produced by fossil fuels is regarded as one of the main factors of global climate change. Although there are different opinions towards the issue of global warming, international communities have made substantial efforts in reducing national and global carbon dioxide emissions. However, low carbon development has been advocated by many countries as a new development model. Low carbon development is defined as utilizing less carbon to promote economic growth in the future. In our age of the increasing importance of climate change, low carbon development is a new form of sustainable development. The ultimate aim of low carbon development is to achieve environmental, economic and social sustainable development. In this context, country comparisons obtained by evaluation of low carbon development indicators are important. In this study, low carbon development levels of European Union countries and Turkey were evaluated by Grey Relational Analysis, which is a multiple criteria decision-making approach.