Climate Change

Biography

Biography: Paula Fernandez Gonzalez

Abstract

Concerns on rising concentrationsof CO2 in the atmosphere and global warming have increased in recent years. Numerous environmental studies analyze the trends in CO2 emissions and their main drivers. In this paper we focus on the dynamics of the carbonization effect as a driving force for CO2 emissions in the European Union (EU). By implementing the Sato-Vartia logarithmic mean Divisia index method, the trend of European emissions in the 2000-2010 period is factorized by both sector and country. The analysis stresses the relevance of the carbonization and intensity effects in order to reduce emissions. Then, based on so-called attribution analysis we present a new theoretical framework that enables the attribution of both economic sector and individual EU Member State to percentage changes in the carbonization index. Results show strong concentration of this reducing influence in some big economies. In fact, Germany, the United Kingdom, France and Italy have contributed by more than 50%. Industry emerges as the most influential sector, contributing to offset any improvement in the carbonization index. Our findings suggest strategies aiming at encouraging innovation, technical change, research on higher quality energies, fuel substitution, and installation of abatement technologies, particularly in the industrial sector of large economies.