Comparative Evaluation of CO₂ Emissions in Europe and Turkey Using GIS

Sustainable development requires extraction and utilization of energy resources on a viable basis for the welfare of human beings and global growth. An increased focus on sustainable development and global warming imposes policy-makers and decision-makers to prioritize environmental responsibility while maximizing economic benefits to the industry. Therefore, evaluating environmental aspects and potential impacts associated with energy resources is essential. Turkey, as a signatory of Kyoto protocol, needs to take actions especially in the energy sector to battle emissions. In order to achieve large-scale emission reduction, the current status needs to be placed under closer scrutiny and once the largest emission generating sectors are identified, necessary changes should be involved in accordance with accepted international standards that consider global warming, eco-balance, and sustainability. This paper presents a comparative evaluation of coal production and utilization impacts on carbon dioxide emission in Europe and in Turkey using geographic information systems (GIS).