Determinants Of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Research Articles

For sustainability environment: some determinants of greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector in EU-27 countries

Climate events significantly affect the lives of not only humanity but also all living things. Just as transformation in the ecosystem affects sectors, all sectors also transform the ecosystem. It is stated that the agricultural sector is at the root of the deterioration in the ecosystem due to the effect of intensive agriculture after the green revolution. It can be stated that, with an understanding far from the concept of sustainability, the foodstuffs and their waste produced in the agricultural sector are considered among the causes of climate change, which is now concentrated on the whole world in the third millennium. In this study, the effect of N2O gas released from produce residues and the release of enteric fermentation on the level of CO2 released from agricultural-food systems was investigated using advanced econometric models. The findings reveal that both factors are effective. However, it can be stated that the effect of N2O gas released from the produce residues is greater. Suggestions such as improving feed rations and maintaining herd management strategies within certain patterns to reduce the level of enteric fermentation may contribute to the process. In produce residue management, turning waste into compost and expanding bioenergy power plants will ensure both waste disposal and resource continuity in generating energy. Otherwise, the decreasing resources in the world may come to an end, and there will be disruptions and problems in the agricultural sector, as in all sectors. Considering the increasing world population, it is inevitable that food supply security may be endangered and the hunger problem may reach an irreversible level.

The Determinants of Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Empirical Evidence from Canadian Provinces

The main objective of the present study is to examine the determinants of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada using panel data of 10 provinces from 1990 to 2019. The pooled ordinary least squares method is used to estimate the models. The main findings of the basic model show that provinces with larger populations, younger ages, and more income produce higher levels of greenhouse gas emissions. The results of the extended model (per capita greenhouse gas emissions as the dependent variable) show that only five factors (out of ten potential determinants identified)—oil production per capita, gas production per capita, motor vehicles registered per capita, electricity generation intensity, and heating degree days—are significant determinants of per capita greenhouse gas emissions. The results also reveal that the provinces with older populations have lower per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Canada. However, both trend variables played an important role in explaining the greenhouse gas emissions per capita in Canada. Moreover, there were no significant differences among the patterns of the per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Canada after 2005.

Determinants of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Transportation Sector in Indonesia: Official Statistics and Big Data Approach

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected every aspect, including the greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation industry. The adoption of Lockdown during the Covid-19 outbreak has decreased greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector. Studying the variables that affect the transportation sector's greenhouse gas emissions during the COVID-19 pandemic is particularly fascinating. Big data and official statistics were combined to create the data for this study. Official statistics are sourced from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) and the National Development Planning Agency (BAPPPENAS) while big data is sourced from the google mobility index. Based on the results of the generalized linear model with the gamma link, it can be concluded that the growth of GRDP per capita and the mobility of people to workplaces have a negative effect on greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector, mobility of the population to groceries and pharmacies has a positive effect on greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector, while people's mobility to recreation and retail has no effect on greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector. During the Covid-19 pandemic, population mobility to Workplaces which showed reduced work from an office (WFO) and increased work from home (WFH) had the greatest influence on reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector. Work from home (WFH) can be used as a solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector at the beginning of the Covid-19 endemic.

New insights from selected South Asian countries on the determinants of GHG emissions

In developing economies, there is a lack of certainty in energy and environmental economic policy. In contrast, research into the interplay between population, economic growth (GDP), renewable energy, nuclear energy, fossil fuels, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has received comparatively little attention. Thus, the main motive of this exploration is to analyze the influence of population, economic growth, and various energy sources consumption on the selected South Asian economy's GHG emissions using the STIRPAT model. The period 1972–2021 is used to estimate results by considering cross-sectional dependence (CSD) and slope homogeneity (SH) tests, as well as second-generation unit root and cointegration tests. Due to the presence of SH, CSD, and mixed-order unit root problems, the cross-sectional autoregressive distributive lag (CS-ARDL) model has been used to estimate the value of selected variables. The impact of GDP and population is positive but insignificant for South Asian countries in the short run, but GDP is significant in the long run. The research also revealed that burning fossil fuels significantly contributes to atmospheric gas emissions level. In addition, renewable and nuclear energy play useful and substantial roles in reducing pollution in South Asian countries. Therefore, it is recommended that the economies of the South Asian countries maintain a uniform approach to economic policy to fully benefit from the advantages of increased green and safe energy production.

Determinants of Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in European Union Countries

In the literature on the subject, it is argued that tax policy is one of the tools stimulating the transition toward sustainable economies. Public authorities can use two functions for this purpose: fiscal and non-fiscal functions. High emission rates and the rising rapid atmospheric changes that come with them are serious threats to the climate and sustainable development. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is one of the goals towards which the world strives (including the EU), so as to keep a balance between people’s expectations, economic aspects, and the needs of the environment. Therefore, it is necessary to explain whether, along with other factors, environmental policy and its component “green taxes” can act as a factor in limiting greenhouse gas emissions. The purpose of this article is to seek an answer to the question of whether “green taxes” as an instrument of tax policy are a significant factor influencing climate change by contributing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This article attempts to identify the determinants of greenhouse gas emissions (the dependent variable) using the method of linear regression analysis. Multiple linear regression models are used to predict the value of the dependent variable based on the values of the independent variables (identified from the literature). Trading of CO2 emissions was not included in the analysis due to lack of data. The regression analysis was carried out using specialized statistical software (SPSS). The authors negatively verified the hypothesis that environmental taxes are a significant determinant of greenhouse gas emission reductions compared to the analyzed determinants. “Population”, “current and capital transfers for environmental protection”, and “supply, transformation and consumption of solid fossil fuels” are the most important factors influencing greenhouse gas emissions. Changing consumer behavior (as an effect of the non-fiscal function of taxes) appears to be an extremely important factor in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Hence, the public authorities should promote behaviors conducive to their reduction by means of incentives, and not mainly taxation of negative behavior or fiscal incentives.

Sources of Variation in the Carbon Footprint of Hemodialysis Treatment.

Greenhouse gas emissions from hemodialysis treatment in the United States have not been quantified. In addition, no previous studies have examined how much emissions vary across facilities, treatments, and emission contributors. To estimate the magnitude and sources of variation in the carbon footprint of hemodialysis treatment, we estimated life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions in carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2-eq) associated with 209,481 hemodialysis treatments in 2020 at 15 Ohio hemodialysis facilities belonging to the same organization. We considered emissions from electricity, natural gas, water, and supply use; patient and staff travel distance; and biohazard and landfill waste. Annual emissions per facility averaged 769,374 kg CO2-eq (95% CI, 709,388 to 848,180 kg CO2-eq). The three largest contributors to total emissions were patient and staff transportation (28.3%), electricity (27.4%), and natural gas (15.2%). Emissions per treatment were 58.9 kg CO2-eq, with a three-fold variation across facilities. The contributors with the largest variation in emissions per treatment were transportation, natural gas, and water (coefficients of variation, 62.5%, 42.4%, and 37.7%, respectively). The annual emissions per hemodialysis facility are equivalent to emissions from the annual energy use in 93 homes; emissions per treatment are equivalent to driving an average automobile for 238 km (149 miles). Similar medical treatments provided in a single geographic region by facilities that are part of the same organization may be expected to have small variations in the determinants of greenhouse gas emissions. However, we found substantial variation in carbon footprints across facilities, treatments, and emission contributors. Understanding the magnitude and variation in greenhouse gas emissions may help identify measures to reduce the environmental effect of hemodialysis treatment.

Do improved biomass cookstoves reduce fuelwood consumption and carbon emissions? Evidence from a field experiment in rural Ethiopia

Using a randomized experimental design, real-time electronic stove surface temperature measurements and controlled cooking tests, we estimate fuelwood and CO2 savings from an improved cookstove (ICS) program in rural Ethiopia. Cooking uses a majority of the fuelwood in the country and therefore is a critical determinant of greenhouse gas emissions. Estimating fuelwood savings is therefore a key aspect of crediting ICS climate change benefits. Our findings suggest that the Mirt injera stove saves a substantial amount of fuelwood. Using a relatively low estimate of percentage of nonrenewable biomass, on average one Mirt stove avoids the burning of approximately 634 kg of fuelwood per year and sequesters an additional 0.65 tons of CO2, which is about one-third of previous estimates. The U.S. Interagency Working Group (2013) 2015–2019 estimate for the global social cost of carbon of $44.00 per ton implies annual global benefits from reduced fuelwood burning of $28.60 per stove per year, which substantially exceeds the $12.00 initial cost of the stove. As the global benefit is much greater than the cost, which is borne entirely by Ethiopia, international transfers would be warranted to support expansion of Mirt adoption.

POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL LIFE CYCLE IMPACTS OF FUEL CELL ELECTRIC VEHICLES POWERED BY HYDROGEN PRODUCED FROM POLISH COKE OVEN GAS

This study analysed the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles’(FCEVs’) life cycles. These included models running on hydrogen derived from coke oven gas (COG), which is a by-product of the coking process of coal and includes hydrogen, methane, and other gases. FCEVs and hydrogen have the potential to drive future mobility. Hydrogen can be separated from the COG in the process of pressure swing adsorption to obtain a purity of hydrogen that meets the requirements of a hydrogen FCEV. An environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) of FCEV powered by hydrogen produced from Polish COG was conducted. The direction of hydrogen production strategies in Poland was also presented. The analyses included the entire life cycle of FCEVs with the production of hydrogen from COG in a Polish coke plant. A comparative analysis of FCEVs and other alternative fuels was conducted, and the main determinants of GHG emissions of FCEV were given. Importantly, this is the first attempt at an environmental assessment of FCEVs in Poland.

Assessment of the applicability of methodological guidelines and guidelines for the quantitative determination of greenhouse gas emissions

The article deals with the problem of climate change. The aim of the study is to analyze and improve methodological recommendations for calculating greenhouse gas emissions. The urgency of reducing the volume of greenhouse gas emissions has been substantiated. Statistical data of emissions volumes are analyzed, the reason for the growth of emissions and the main contributors are determined. The main gases that give the greenhouse effect are identified, and their brief characteristics are given. The need to improve the monitoring and reporting system of greenhouse gas emissions at the global level has been substantiated. The goal of a perfect system for accounting and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions is to timely obtain relevant data for the systematic reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The methodological tools for quantifying greenhouse gas emissions, approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Russia, are analyzed from the point of view of their applicability by organizations. Measures for their improvement are proposed, based on the international experience of building guidelines for the IPCC greenhouse gas inventory. The results obtained may be of interest to energy companies when developing corporate guidelines for quantifying greenhouse gas emissions.

Eco-innovation and determinants of GHG emissions in OECD countries

The fight against climate change entails a universal commitment, given the threat of destructive changes to the planet, all countries have to alter how they act in order to slow its progress. This research provides evidence on the strongest determinants of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Using a panel data sample of OECD countries during the period 2011–2018, the analysis is carried out in two stages. In the first stage, DEA-Bootstrap and the Malmquist Index are applied to measure eco-innovation and productivity changes occurring in the eight years under analysis. In the second stage, the two-step Generalized Method of Moments is used to study the connection between eco-innovation and GHG emissions, incorporating other factors that a priori could be expected to affect emissions, such as productivity, environmental policies and waste management. The results reveal that the countries analysed have introduced new technologies in an attempt to curb global warming. It is also observed that ecoinnovation, CO 2 productivity and environmental policies have an important impact on the mitigation of emissions. International treaties should seek to strengthen these aspects and halt the cyclical effect of emissions.

Determinants of greenhouse gas emissions: A new multiplicative approach analysing the impact of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sector mix

The mitigation of climate change is the main issue for environmental policymakers. A large number of authors analysed the impact of various factors on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In this paper, we proposed a multiplicative approach to use 2- and 3-way interactions simultaneously in order to analyse the effects of energy efficiency, renewable energy and sector mix as the moderators that shape the economic activity – environmental degradation nexus. The results encompassing global panel data show that the turning point increased from 1990 to 1995 to 2002–2007 and decreased afterwards. Considering the analysis of moderators, a high share of agriculture and industry sectors make the curve flat with a positive slope and a high level of economic activity was associated with more GHG emissions with no turning point. The marginal effect of energy efficiency to reduce the negative impact of agriculture and industry sectors was growing. Meanwhile, the marginal effect of renewables to reduce the negative impact of agriculture and industry sectors was diminishing. Service sector and energy efficiency, service sector and renewables worked as the substituting forces reducing GHG emissions with a diminishing marginal rate of substitution. Therefore, this study confirms that the economic activity – environmental degradation relationship is very complex and further studies should consider the role of the moderators of this nexus.

Convergence and determinants of greenhouse gas emissions in Australia: A regional analysis

Abstract Australia's emissions from fossil fuels and industry have been on the rise since 2014 and may fall short of its required 2030 Paris Agreement target of 26–28% (below 2005 levels). While much effort has been made by various states and territories in setting emission targets and the uptake in renewable energy sources, significant inroads need to occur in order to meet the 1.5 °C target. Understanding the dynamics of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at the regional level is thus essential for policymakers in achieving emission targets given the decomposition of industry at the regional level. We investigate the convergence process of three significant GHG emissions – carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane emissions – at regional level over the period 1990 to 2017. Our results identify multiple convergence clusters in GHG emissions, highlighting the need for tailored policies at the regional level. To gain an understanding in the factors driving these results, we analysed the determinants of the convergence process. We identified that state income per capita, urbanisation, and international trade plays a crucial in the convergence path off GHG emissions.

Carbon footprint of fertilizer imports to the East African Bloc and policy recommendations for decarbonization

Background: Almost all nitrogenous (N) fertilizers are fixed on an enormous scale using the Haber-Bosch ammonia synthesis process via a reaction of Nitrogen with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst. This process is a leading global polluter, emitting 830 megatons of CO2 to the atmosphere annually. On the other hand, the global transport sector emits 7.5 gigatons of CO2 yet the fraction of emissions from freight transportation of N fertilizers from exporting countries to the East African (EA) Bloc is not known. This study examined the carbon footprint from freight transportation of N fertilizers. The findings are useful in the regions’ nationally determined contributions (NDCs) as per the Paris Agreement of December 2015 regarding downsizing emissions from the transport sector. Methods: The study area included five EA Community (EAC) countries namely, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. Statistics of fertilizers were obtained from https://africafertilizer.org/. The carbon footprint calculator (CFC) for fertilizer production (obtained from https://www.fertilizerseurope.com/), certified by the Carbon Trust Standard, was used. Results: Over 93% of fertilizers imported to the EA Bloc are N fertilizers, leaving a carbon footprint of 4.9 megatons CO2-eq. Of these emissions, 1.1 megatons CO2-eq were contributed by imports from Saudi Arabia and 0.8 megatons CO2-eq from China. The ‘dirtiest’ of N fertilizers that accounted for the highest carbon footprint on the EA bloc were urea ammonium nitrate, calcium nitrate, nitrophosphates and ammonium sulphate. Conclusions: Every metric ton of N imported results in a carbon footprint of 4.5 metric tons CO2-eq. The Ammonia production process of exporting countries, freight distance, choice and number of N fertilizers imported are significant determinants of greenhouse gas emissions to East Africa’s NDCs. To reach net-zero emissions the EA community needs to invest in new processes, circular economy and decarbonization pathways.

Determinants of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Interconnected Grids in China.

While direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by China's power sector from the generation side have been widely investigated, driving forces from the electricity consumption perspective and inter-regional electricity transmission have been overlooked to a large extent. This study quantified relative contributions of six factors to changes in GHG emissions from interconnected grids in China during 2008-2015. These six factors include three generation-side factors (i.e., fuel mix of thermal power generation, energy efficiency of thermal power generation, and electricity structure), two consumption-side factors (i.e., electricity efficiency of GDP and GDP), and electricity transmission structure. GDP growth and changes in fuel mix of thermal power generation are two major drivers of increased GHG emission during 2008-2015, especially for the North China Grid. In contrast, changes in electricity transmission structure (especially in East China Grid and Southern China Grid), the increase in electricity efficiency of GDP (except for Northwest China Grid), improvements in energy efficiency of thermal power generation (especially in North China Grid and Central China Grid), and changes in electricity structure (especially in Southern Power Grid) are major factors offsetting GHG emission increments. Findings of this study can provide multiple-perspective policy implications for GHG mitigation in China's power sector.

Study of CO2 flux and soil carbon in northern Pantanal, Brazil

The determination of greenhouse gas emissions from wetlands are of great interest given the biogeochemistry these areas exhibit. We measure soil CO2 concentration and monthly fluxes on a tree island of the Northern Pantanal of Mato Grosso, Brazil, and estimate the role of soil as a carbon source or sink during high tide, low tide, flooding, and drought seasons. The average value of the CO2 fluxes in the wetland soil was 0.54 ± 0.30 g (CO2)·m- 2·h- 1 with the soil acting as a carbon source at -9.11 ton.·ha-1 over the one year cycle. Soil CO2 fluxes were significantly correlated with soil moisture and temperature at 5 cm depth. Soil CO2 concentrations reached more than 100 ppm. Soil carbon stocks did not correlate significantly with variables in this study, suggesting that non-measured variables can influence soil carbon dynamics.

Economic determinants of Greenhouse gas emissions in Ethiopia: Bounds testing approach

This paper aims at investigating the main economic determinants that contribute to greenhouse gases emissions in Ethiopia. By applying the bounds testing approach, the long and short-run impacts of economic growth, trade openness, and industry on air pollution in Ethiopia are estimated. The data set used in the estimation process covers the period (1981-2013). The study also attempts to find out whether the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis applies to the Ethiopian economy or not. Results indicate that both trade liberalization and industry, when they interact together, have adverse impacts on the environment in Ethiopia. Furthermore, there are still no evidences to support the existence of EKC in Ethiopia. Key words : Bounds testing approach, EKC hypothesis, Ethiopia, Greenhouse gas emissions, Economic growth, Foreign Trade, Industry.

Driving reduction after the introduction of light rail transit: Evidence from an experimental-control group evaluation of the Los Angeles Expo Line

There is a pressing need to estimate the magnitude and dynamics of the behavioural effects of transportation investments and policy. This article innovates by applying an experimental-control group research design to the case of new light rail transit service in Los Angeles, California. Only a handful of previous studies use an experimental design to assess impacts of light rail transit, and this is the first to use an experimental design to measure impacts on vehicle miles travelled, a key determinant of greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector. We administered an annual seven-day travel study to a panel of households in the vicinity of Los Angeles’ Expo light rail line before the 2012 start of rail service and twice after the line opened. We find that households living within walking distance (1 km) of the new light rail drove approximately 10 fewer miles per day relative to control households farther away. Rail transit trips among near-station households approximately tripled relative to households beyond walking distance. Such driving reductions among households within walking distance of new rail transit stations suggest that Los Angeles’ large rail transit investment, coupled with land use policy, has the potential to help achieve climate change policy goals. More broadly, experimental evaluation can provide insights into causality and patterns of travel behaviour change associated with planning policies.

Unconventional Determinants of Greenhouse Gas Emissions: The role of trust

AbstractSocial norms have been included in the theory of collective action to overcome difficulties in explaining why commons may perform better when self‐regulated. The role of trust has been identified in several contexts of local social dilemmas, but only recently has been extended to global commons, based on large descriptive evidence collected by Elinor Ostrom. However, no quantitative evidence was available until now. Using a dataset of 29 European countries over the period 1990–2007, we provide empirical evidence in favour of the role of trust in global dilemmas. We find a non‐negligible impact of trust on greenhouse gas emissions, which can support Ostrom's intuition on the social roots of pro‐environmental behaviour. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment

Determinants of greenhouse gas emissions from Swedish private consumption: Time-series and cross-sectional analyses

The relationships between consumption, energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from Swedish households are analysed using both cross-sectional multivariate regressions and a decomposition analysis of GHG emissions between 1993 and 2006 into underlying trends. The analyses cover 104 consumption categories and include both direct and indirect energy use. The results from the cross-sectional analysis confirm previous results from other countries showing that total expenditures is by far the most important determinant of households' energy use and GHG emissions with expenditure elasticities of 0.77 and 0.85, respectively. Households living in single-family houses were also found to cause higher total energy demand than households living in apartments. Age also showed a positive relationship with both total energy use and emissions, while the level of education had a low significance. The decomposition analysis showed that improvements in technical energy efficiency over time had twice as large impact on energy use as the change in composition of consumption. When the effect of energy efficiency improvements was deducted from the energy trend, the relationship between total expenditures and energy use was found to be similar to the cross-sectional relationship.

Unconventional Determinants of Greenhouse Gas Emissions: The Role of Trust

Social norms have been included in the theory of collective action to overcome difficulties in explaining why commons may perform better when self-regulated. The role of trust has been identified in several contexts of local social dilemmas, but only recently has been extended to global commons, based on large descriptive evidence collected by Elinor Ostrom. However, no quantitative evidence was available until now. Using a dataset of 29 European countries over the period 1990-2007, we provide empirical evidence in favor of the role of trust in global dilemmas. We find that trust has a negative impact on greenhouse gas emissions, whose extrapolation to Spain would imply a reduction in emissions of 12.5% if Spaniards would trust each other as Swedish people do.