National Carbon Accounting—Analyzing the Impact of Urbanization and Energy-Related Factors upon CO 2 Emissions in Central–Eastern European Countries by Using Machine Learning Algorithms and Panel Data Analysis

Florian Nuta, Alina Cristina Nuta, Cristina Gabriela Zamfir, Stefan-Mihai Petrea, Dan Munteanu and Dragos Sebastian Cristea
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Cristina Gabriela Zamfir: Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Business Administration Department, “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, Domneasca Street, 111, 800008 Galati, Romania
Stefan-Mihai Petrea: Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Food Science, Food Engineering, Biotechnology and Aquaculture Department, “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, 800008 Galati, Romania
Dan Munteanu: Faculty of Automation Computer Sciences Electronics and Electrical Engineering, Computers and Applied Informatics Department, “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, Domnească Street, No. 111, 800008 Galaţi, Romania
Dragos Sebastian Cristea: Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Business Administration Department, “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, Domneasca Street, 111, 800008 Galati, Romania

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 10, 1-23

Abstract: The work at hand assesses several driving factors of carbon emissions in terms of urbanization and energy-related parameters on a panel of emerging European economies, between 1990 and 2015. The use of machine learning algorithms and panel data analysis offered the possibility to determine the importance of the input variables by applying three algorithms (Random forest, XGBoost, and AdaBoost) and then by modeling the urbanization and the impact of energy intensity on the carbon emissions. The empirical results confirm the relationship between urbanization and energy intensity on CO 2 emissions. The findings emphasize that separate components of energy consumption affect carbon emissions and, therefore, a transition toward renewable sources for energy needs is desirable. The models from the current study confirm previous studies’ observations made for other countries and regions. Urbanization, as a process, has an influence on the carbon emissions more than the actual urban regions do, confirming that all the activities carried out as urbanization efforts are more harmful than the resulted urban area. It is proper to say that the urban areas tend to embrace modern, more green technologies but the road to achieve environmentally friendly urban areas is accompanied by less environmentally friendly industries (such as the cement industry) and a high consumption of nonrenewable energy.

Keywords: urbanization; energy intensity; carbon emissions; environment; energy consumption; CO 2 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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