Globalization and environmental pollution : where does the MENA region stand?

This study conducts both descriptive and empirical analyses for environmental deterioration and globalization level in the MENA region. First, we give a snapshot of the current globalization level of MENA countries, including economic, social, and political aspects. Besides, we also discuss environmental issues in the region, such as forest area, internal freshwater resources, and environmental degradation level. Second, this study utilizes the Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient analysis between ecological footprint and types of globalization indices. According to the findings, not only economic globalization but also social and political globalization have a major impact on the environmental problems in the MENA region. Several significant policy changes need to be tackled. A key policy priority should be to plan for the long-term care of environmental quality in the MENA countries. For this purpose, they should spend their oil and natural gas revenues on providing sustainable economic growth rather than plain economic growth.