Structural decomposition of global co2 emissions changes and contributions of the United States, European Union, BRIC and Rest of the World

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

The aim of this study was to estimate the structural decomposition of the variation of the world CO2 emissions with the use of the world's input-output matrix in four effects: intensity, technology, final demand structure and volume of final demand. The main conclusions are that the intensity effect was the main mitigating factor of carbon dioxide emissions globally (-8202 GtCO2). The main factor responsible for the increase in emissions was the volume effect of final demand (economic growth) with 9843 GtCO2, followed by structural effect of the final demand with 7257 GtCO2 and then the technology effect with 1152 GtCO2. The United States and the European Union have reduced total emissions, the first mainly by technology effect and the second by intensity effect. The BRIC countries and Rest of the world made efforts to mitigate emissions by intensity and technology effects, however, the positive values of volume and structure effects of the final demand outweighed the negative values resulting in increased emissions. Therefore, targets and strategies for mitigating carbon dioxide emissions should consider the development stage of countries and the development of sustainable lifestyles and conscious consumption are important for new emission mitigation strategies.