Greenhouse Gas Emissions Growth in Europe: A Comparative Analysis of Determinants

Mariano González-Sánchez and Juan Luis Martín-Ortega
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Mariano González-Sánchez: Finance and Accounting, Business Economics and Accounting Department, Universidad Nacional de Educacion a Distancia, Paseo Senda del Rey, 11, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Juan Luis Martín-Ortega: CEINDO-CEU International Doctoral School, Law and Economics Program, Julian Romea 23, 28003 Madrid, Spain
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Mariano Gonzalez Sanchez

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 3, 1-22

Abstract: Understanding the underlying reasons for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions trends in different countries is fundamental for climate change mitigation. This paper identifies the main determinants that affect GHG emissions growth and assesses their impact and differences among countries in Europe. Previous studies have produced inconclusive results and presented several limitations, such as the lack of quality of the data used, the reduced identification of determinants and the use of methods that did not enable hypothesis testing. Conversely, this research identifies an extended list of determinants of GHG emissions, performs an in-depth statistical analysis and contrasts the significance of determinants using panel data and multiple linear regression models for the period 1990–2017 for the main Eurozone countries. The study found that GDP and final energy intensity are the main drivers for the reduction of GHG emissions in Europe. Furthermore, energy prices are not significant and heterogeneous results are found for the renewable energy, fuel mix and carbon intensity determinants, pointing to a different behavior at the country level. The uneven impact of the main determinants of GHG emission growth suggest that a differentiated application of European policies at country level will enhance the efficiency of mitigation efforts in Europe.

Keywords: greenhouse gas emissions; European Union; climate change mitigation; drivers of GHG emissions; determinants of GHG emissions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:3:p:1012-:d:314781

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