Decarbonizing energy: Evaluating fossil fuel displacement by renewables in OECD countries.

Energy transition to greener systems has been a focal point in climate policy agendas across countries as the negative environmental impacts of fossil fuel technologies have become more evident Displacing fossil fuels with clean energy alternatives in this regard is essential for meeting global climate objectives. In this context, the study analyzes the role of disaggregated renewable energy sources on fossil fuel displacement in 36 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries in the period 2000-2020. The findings demonstrate a discernible trend in the displacement of fossil fuels by various forms of renewable energy sources. It is found that to effectively displace 1% of fossil fuels, it is necessary to achieve an average increase of 1.15% in renewable generation capacity. In addition, a one-to-one displacement of fossil fuels occurs with hydropower, demonstrating its higher level of competitiveness and effectiveness in displacing fossil fuels. Moreover, there is a partial displacement of fossil fuels by solar and wind power. These findings suggest that renewable energy sources are progressively advancing towards effectively displacing fossil fuels.

Determinants of Protective Healthcare Services Awareness among Female Syrian Refugees in Turkey.

War-related migration may deprive people of access to a regular healthcare system and cause new diseases to be battled. Since refugee women are more vulnerable to diseases during this period, protective healthcare services awareness is critical for early disease diagnosis. Following the civil war that triggered the migration of millions of Syrians, an extensive survey was undertaken in coordination with the World Health Organization Country Office in Turkey to explore the health status of Syrian refugees in Turkey. Employing the survey data, we aimed to investigate the determinants of the awareness of protective health services (Pap smear test, mammogram, HIV test) among female Syrian refugees. Logit regression analysis was applied in order to investigate the determinants of the awareness of protective health services among the female refugee population. The results revealed a notably low rate of awareness of protective health services among female Syrian refugees. Furthermore, the association of explanatory variables, including socioeconomic factors, healthcare use, and health literacy with the protective health services awareness, was found to be significant.

Factors Associated with Self-Reported Chronic Diseases of Syrian Refugees in Turkey.

Background: Syria's civil conflict, which began in 2011, led millions of Syrians to migrate to countries all over the world, including Turkey. Considering the fact that war-caused migrations may affect the citizens of the host countries and immigrants from diverse perspectives, It is important to make scientific research on the outcomes of migration after the Syrian civil war. Objective: This paper investigates the relationship between chronic diseases, such as, cardiac disease, diabetes, and hypertension, and covariates, including socioeconomic status, war-related conditions, risky health behaviours, health services use, and health literacy, using survey data on 7 202 Syrian refugees from 4 068 households living out of camp settlements in Turkey. Methods: Logistic regressions were employed to examine the relationship between the chronic diseases and covariates, which include socioeconomic status, war-related conditions, risky health behaviours, health services use, and health literacy. Findings: The results reveal that pre-migration income, health behaviours, such as, tobacco consumption, body mass index, daily activity, health-care use, and health literacy are the most important factors for one or more chronic diseases. Conclusion: Considering the effects of risk factors on chronic diseases among Syrian refugees, it is critical to take preventive steps for negative outcomes.

On the dynamic return and volatility connectedness of cryptocurrency, crude oil, clean energy, and stock markets: a time-varying analysis.

The high energy consumption of cryptocurrency transactions has raised concerns about the environment and sustainability among green investors and regulatory authorities. The current study examines the connectedness among clean energy, Bitcoin, the stock market, and crude oil empirically. The time-varying parameter vector autoregression (TVP-VAR) is used to estimate the dynamics of connectedness in a daily dataset spanning the period November 11, 2013 to September 30, 2021. We find that the clean energy and traditional stock markets transmit shocks to Bitcoin and oil in terms of return, and they receive shocks in terms of volatility from Bitcoin and oil. Additionally, Bitcoin and other financial markets are only tenuously linked during non-crisis periods. Nonetheless, their connection strengthens substantially during times of crisis, such as the great cryptocurrency crash of 2018 and the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. We believe that these findings can help explain how clean energy and cryptocurrency markets are linked during times of crisis.

Time-varying impact of pandemics on global output growth.

This paper analyses the dynamic impact of uncertainty due to global pandemics (SARS, H5N1, H1N1, MERS, Ebola, and COVID-19) on global output growth, using a TVP-SVAR model. We find that the negative effect of the coronavirus on the growth rate of output is unprecedented, with the emerging markets being the worst hit. We also find that since 2016, the comovement among the growth rates has increased significantly. Our results imply that policymakers would need to undertake massive expansionary policies, but it is also important to pursue well-coordinated policy decisions across the economic blocs.

Revisiting the economic growth and electricity consumption nexus in Pakistan.

This paper revisits the interaction between electricity consumption, real gross domestic product, and carbon dioxide emissions in Pakistan. To this end, our study relies on annual data from 1971 to 2014 for the econometric analysis while accounting for structural break(s). According to the Maki cointegration test, a cointegration equilibrium relationship exists among electricity consumption, economic growth, and carbon dioxide emissions. The empirical findings from Toda-Yamamoto causality test provided the following insights: (i) unidirectional causality was found running from economic growth to electricity consumption. Thus, this study validates the conservative hypothesis, meaning that in Pakistan, conservative energy strategies cannot harm economic progress. (ii) Causality was also found running from electricity consumption to carbon dioxide emissions. This implies that industrial activities trigger an increase in carbon emissions flaring which in return translates into environmental degradation. This outcome has inherent policy implications which are further discussed in the conclusion section.

Inequality in carbon intensity in EU-28: analysis based on club convergence.

This study examines the convergence properties of CO2 intensity in EU-28 countries, using panel data for the period 1990 to 2016. We use Phillips and Sul's (2007) approach to test for CO2 intensity convergence and identify convergence clubs. In addition to the EU-28 members, we analyze the EU-15, and the new EU members (EU-new) that joined after 2004, as distinct groups for the periods 1990-2016, 1990-2004, and 2005-2016. Our results show no convergence to a single group among the EU countries during the full and two subsample periods. However, the convergence takes place within five to seven clubs for the EU-28 and within three to five clubs for the EU-15 and EU-new. There is no evidence of all members converging to a single club in either group or the three sub-periods examined. This study highlights the need for adopting new strategies considering club properties and for sustainable growth, which meets the EU-28 environmental regulation standards.

Survey on the health status, services utilization and determinants of health: Syrian refugee population in Turkey

This publication reports the results of a survey on the health status, services utilization and determinants of health of the Syrian refugee population in Turkey. The general goal of the survey is to determine and better understand the health status of Syrian refugees living outside camps. Among the data available in this report are the measurements of the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of this population, health status including self-reported perceived health in six dimensions and the prevalence of self-reported morbidity for chronic diseases and mental health conditions and the prevalence of chronic diseases risk factors. Moreover, the report shows data concerning the health care service utilization, satisfaction and accessibility with special focus on the geographical variability among Turkish provinces and the health literacy of Syrian refugees. Finally, the report evaluates maternal and child health and health care access, in particular the prevalence of general health conditions among children, the presence of acute conditions among children under 5 years, the vaccination rate (reported by parents) and the antenatal and postnatal care accessibility and utilization by mothers and children.

The perspectives of politicians on tobacco control in Turkey.

Background: Tobacco use is a leading but preventable cause of non-communicable diseases and premature death. The legislature has a key role in setting tobacco control policies. Smoking trends are decreasing thanks to the introduction of effective tobacco control policies in Turkey and these policies may have been shaped by how politicians' interpreted social problems that were prominent during the development and implementation of tobacco regulations. Aim: This paper explores the long-term national relationship between tobacco consumption, tobacco control policies and the associated political discourse in Turkey, considering the varying influences through national leadership on this important public health agenda. This relationship is studied by comparing a time series analysis of tobacco consumption trends with a policy analysis of the minutes of deliberations at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (GNAT). Methods: This study uses Bayesian time series analysis in order investigate whether the tobacco control policies and related activities influenced the annual per adult cigarette consumption in Turkey. We used a novel method to identify change points in tobacco trends and whether they correspond with key policy changes intended to alter usage after adjusting for the effect of other non-policy related covariates, such as the purchasing power. The policy analysis included an examination of the minutes of deliberations at the GNAT-which is the Turkish parliament and unicameral Turkish legislature-1 year before and 1 year after the break years associated with an increase or decrease in tobacco consumption. Results and recommendations: Tobacco consumption increased with the encouragement of tobacco production and the entrance of multinational companies in the country in 1976 and 1993, respectively. The National Tobacco Law of 1996 and comprehensive amendments in 2008, including smoke-free public places and tax increases, appear to have helped reduce tobacco consumption in Turkey. The focus of Parliamentary discussions throughout this period changed, becoming less supportive of tobacco over time. However, throughout the period there remained discussions focussing on concerns around the implications for the economy and the privatization agenda, national agriculture and the welfare of farmers. Effective control appears to require certain political ingredients to be implemented: politicians who are well informed on tobacco control measures and understand the range of issues surrounding the policies (not only those directly health-related); and supportive public health information in the community. Evidence-based public health policy should be introduced to the politicians.

Prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases in Turkey: the case for investment

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases and their risk factors are an increasing public health and development challenge in Turkey. This report provides evidence through three analyses that NCDs reduce economic output, and discusses potential options in response, outlining details of their relative returns on investment. An economic burden analysis shows that economic losses from NCDs are equivalent to 3.6% of gross domestic product. An intervention costing analysis provides an estimate of the funding required to implement a set of policy interventions for prevention and clinical interventions. A cost–benefit analysis compares these implementation costs with the estimated health gains and identifies which policy packages would give the greatest returns on investment.

Antimicrobial, insecticidal and phytotoxic activities of Cotinus coggyria Scop. essential oil (Anacardiaceae).

The essential oil of Cotinus coggyria Scop.' leaves was found to be rich in α-pinene (43.1%), limonene (21.3%) and ß-myrcene (8.5%). In the antimicrobial screening, essential oil was notably active on Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, S. aureus ATCC BAA-977, Candida albicans ATCC 14053 and C. parapsilosis ATCC 22019 using the disc diffusion and volatilisation assays. The fumigant assay of the essential oil caused 70% and 100% mortality on the two pest adults of Acanthoscelides obtectus and Tribolium castaneum at 80 µL L⁻¹ air concentration at 96 h, respectively. In the toxicity assay on weeds, a dose-dependent decrease was observed in the germination and seedling growth of Silybum marianum and Portulaca oleracea. The present results indicated that oil could be suggested as an effective biocontrol agent in various fields.