Predictors of national CO2 emissions: do international commitments matter?

Carbon dioxide emissions are the main cause of anthropogenic climate change and play a central role in discussions on climate change mitigation. Previous research has demonstrated that national carbon dioxide emissions are driven mainly by population size and wealth. However, the variation in per ca...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Climatic change 2016-12, Vol.139 (3-4), p.491-502
Main Authors: Franzen, Axel, Mader, Sebastian
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alternative energy sources
Anthropogenic factors
Atmospheric Sciences
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide emissions
Climate change
Climate change mitigation
Climate Change/Climate Change Impacts
Earth and Environmental Science
Earth Sciences
Emissions
Emissions control
Energy prices
Energy resources
Environmental impact
Environmental Kuznets curve
Environmental policy
Exports
Global warming
Human influences
Imports
Per capita
Population
Population number
Renewable energy sources
Standard of living
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Carbon dioxide emissions are the main cause of anthropogenic climate change and play a central role in discussions on climate change mitigation. Previous research has demonstrated that national carbon dioxide emissions are driven mainly by population size and wealth. However, the variation in per capita emissions of nations with similar standards of living and similar population is huge. In this paper we investigate the drivers of national per capita carbon dioxide emissions over and above already known factors. In particular, we extend previous research by taking into account countries’ shares of imports and exports, indicators of political interventions such as energy prices, and the use of renewable energy sources. Moreover, we also examine whether international commitments, such as the ones made by many nations at climate summits of the United Nations, matter. We use country-level data from 1980 to 2014 and estimate fixed effects panel regression models. In accordance with former research we find no environmental Kuznets curve with respect to carbon dioxide per capita emission levels. However, higher energy prices and the availability of alternative energy sources both reduce emissions. Furthermore, voluntary international environmental commitments also motivate countries to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
ISSN:0165-0009
1573-1480
DOI:10.1007/s10584-016-1795-x