Investigating The Factors Affecting Carbon Dioxide Emission With Emphasis on The Role of Energy Consumption: A Case Study of MENA Region Countries

Carbon dioxide emission is one of important challenges facing humanity, which has attracted the attention of many researchers and policymakers in recent years. The purpose of this study is investigating the factors influencing carbon dioxide emission. For achieving the purpose of paper spatial econometrics model and panel data of MENA countries are used over the period of 2000-2015. The results indicate that carbon dioxide emission in the MENA region countries have significant effect on surrounding countries. Also, the variables of energy consumption (0.01), economic globalization (0.134), industrialization (0.405) and urbanization (0.042) have positive and significant effect on carbon dioxide emission in the MENA region. The interaction among energy consumption and globalization (0.361), energy consumption and, industrialization (0.234) and urbanization (0.085) have a positive and significant effect on carbon dioxide emission. According to the results of this study, it is necessary that policymakers should not only focus on the national economic benefits but also consider the national and regional environmental benefits in policy making.