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Walking away from a low-carbon economy? Recent and historical trends using a regional decomposition analysis

Mundaca, Luis LU ; Markandya, Anil and Norgaard, Jorgen (2013) In Energy Policy 61. p.1471-1480
Abstract
Using the latest available data, this brief article attempts to provide the first regional decomposition analysis of CO2 emissions from fuel combustion. Covering eight regions of the world, determinants are estimated in relative and absolute terms for the period 1971-2010. We use the unparalleled 2010 global surge in CO2 emissions as a reference and entry point for the analysis. Overall, results show that most regions have recently performed worse than their historical trends and lack of meaningful progress is identified. Whereas specific drivers for certain regions suggest some level of continuous improvement (e.g. reduced energy intensity in Asia, decarbonisation of of energy supply in OECD Europe), they are incapable of offsetting the... (More)
Using the latest available data, this brief article attempts to provide the first regional decomposition analysis of CO2 emissions from fuel combustion. Covering eight regions of the world, determinants are estimated in relative and absolute terms for the period 1971-2010. We use the unparalleled 2010 global surge in CO2 emissions as a reference and entry point for the analysis. Overall, results show that most regions have recently performed worse than their historical trends and lack of meaningful progress is identified. Whereas specific drivers for certain regions suggest some level of continuous improvement (e.g. reduced energy intensity in Asia, decarbonisation of of energy supply in OECD Europe), they are incapable of offsetting the effects of economic growth and increased energy use. With the exception of Africa, most regions appear to have missed the low-carbon economy opportunity' provided by the 20082009 global financial crisis. Results suggest a lack of serious environmental effectiveness of regional policy portfolios aiming at reducing CO2 emissions. Highly ambitious energy efficiency and renewable energy policies across all regions are immediately needed. Additionally, absolute reductions in energy use from fossil fuels and resulting CO2 emissions are urgently required in rich regions if we are to align production and consumption patterns with maintaining global warming below the 2 degrees C threshold. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (Less)
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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Climate and energy policy, Low-carbon economy, Decomposition analysis
in
Energy Policy
volume
61
pages
1471 - 1480
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • wos:000325443500147
  • scopus:84881666253
ISSN
1873-6777
DOI
10.1016/j.enpol.2013.04.083
project
Policy Intervention for a Competitive Green Energy Economy
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
089e2d63-8a0b-4e62-9362-0ca67c698969 (old id 4204044)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 14:05:05
date last changed
2022-01-27 22:44:37
@article{089e2d63-8a0b-4e62-9362-0ca67c698969,
  abstract     = {{Using the latest available data, this brief article attempts to provide the first regional decomposition analysis of CO2 emissions from fuel combustion. Covering eight regions of the world, determinants are estimated in relative and absolute terms for the period 1971-2010. We use the unparalleled 2010 global surge in CO2 emissions as a reference and entry point for the analysis. Overall, results show that most regions have recently performed worse than their historical trends and lack of meaningful progress is identified. Whereas specific drivers for certain regions suggest some level of continuous improvement (e.g. reduced energy intensity in Asia, decarbonisation of of energy supply in OECD Europe), they are incapable of offsetting the effects of economic growth and increased energy use. With the exception of Africa, most regions appear to have missed the low-carbon economy opportunity' provided by the 20082009 global financial crisis. Results suggest a lack of serious environmental effectiveness of regional policy portfolios aiming at reducing CO2 emissions. Highly ambitious energy efficiency and renewable energy policies across all regions are immediately needed. Additionally, absolute reductions in energy use from fossil fuels and resulting CO2 emissions are urgently required in rich regions if we are to align production and consumption patterns with maintaining global warming below the 2 degrees C threshold. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.}},
  author       = {{Mundaca, Luis and Markandya, Anil and Norgaard, Jorgen}},
  issn         = {{1873-6777}},
  keywords     = {{Climate and energy policy; Low-carbon economy; Decomposition analysis}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{1471--1480}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Energy Policy}},
  title        = {{Walking away from a low-carbon economy? Recent and historical trends using a regional decomposition analysis}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/3768060/4451928.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.enpol.2013.04.083}},
  volume       = {{61}},
  year         = {{2013}},
}