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Exploring the role of socio-economic factors in European Green Deal performance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 August 2025

Mert Topcu Open the ORCID record for Mert Topcu [Opens in a new window] ,
Salih Ozdemir  and
Neslihan Demirel
Mert Topcu*
Affiliation:
Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University, Department of Economics, Antalya, Türkiye
Salih Ozdemir
Affiliation:
Kayseri University, Graduate School, Kayseri, Türkiye
Neslihan Demirel
Affiliation:
Kayseri University, Department of Industrial Engineering, Kayseri, Türkiye
*
Corresponding author: Mert Topcu; Email: mert.topcu@alanya.edu.tr
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Summary

The European Green Deal (EGD) provides a strategic framework for the European Union’s (EU) transition to climate neutrality by 2050. Yet, limited integration of socio-economic dimensions may hinder its long-term success and fairness. This study investigates the indirect impacts of socio-economic factors on EGD performance by constructing a Green Deal Performance Index (GDPI) using a multi-criteria decision-making approach for 22 EU countries over 2010–2020. We then apply an instrumental variable regression approach to estimate how emissions, shaped by structural socio-economic conditions, affect the GDPI. Our results show that the negative impact of emissions is nearly 47 times larger when socio-economic dynamics are ignored. These findings underscore the necessity of inclusive policymaking for achieving carbon neutrality, contributing to discussions on ensuring a just transition by highlighting the critical role of socio-economic dynamics. We also present implications for policymakers developing fair and equitable strategies promoting sustainability and social justice in this context.

Keywords

Carbon emissionsEuropean Green Dealsocio-economic factors

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Type
Research Paper
Information
Environmental Conservation , First View , pp. 1 - 8
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Foundation for Environmental Conservation

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