Energy-related Greenhouse Gas Research Articles

Decarbonization in New Zealand – where and how: a combination of input–output approach and structural decomposition analysis

In New Zealand, agriculture accounts for around 50% of total gross greenhouse gas emissions, energy production and use account for 40%. Given the limited possibility of reducing methane from the agricultural sector, we focus on the shape of, and factors influencing, the energy-related emissions profile. A single framework that combines environmental input–output analysis with structural decomposition analysis is established to systematically investigate driving forces shaping energy-related greenhouse gas emissions at national and sectoral levels. Results show that emission intensity, population, and consumption volume are dominant factors influencing shifting the energy-related emissions profile from 2007 to 2013. To achieve a net-zero-carbon economy, decarbonizing the transport sector is foremost and should be given priority. Policy directed at improving energy utilization in private consumption and exports, and the adoption and utilization of advanced technology in manufacturing, would contribute to achieving emissions reduction targets.

Orphan No More—Federal Funds Begin Flowing to State Coffers for Orphan Well Remediation

Billions of dollars in federal funding secured under the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Law (BIL) has started flowing into US state coffers for the plugging and remediation of orphan oil and gas wells. Signed into law in November 2021, the BIL is a $1.2 trillion “once-in-a-generation investment” that includes $4.7 billion in funding to plug and remediate orphan wells across the nation. According to the US Department of the Interior (DOI), these legacy pollution sites are environmental hazards and jeopardize public health and safety by contaminating groundwater, emitting noxious gases and methane, littering the landscape with rusted and dangerous equipment, and harming wildlife. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimated in a 2020 inventory of greenhouse gas emissions that, on average, each unplugged abandoned oil and gas well emits 0.13 tons of methane per year. When multiplied by an estimated 2.1 million unplugged, abandoned oil and gas wells, the EPA estimated methane emissions of 276,472 tons in 2019, equivalent to roughly 9.5 mtpa of carbon dioxide (CO2) assuming a 100-year global warming potential (GWP) of 34. This is roughly 2.6% of total US energy-related methane emissions or roughly 0.2% of total US energy-related greenhouse gas emissions in 2019, assuming a 100-year GWP for methane of 34, according to a report published in Environmental Science & Technology. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change defines GWP as the cumulative radiative forcing, both direct and indirect effects, over a specified time horizon resulting from the emission of a unit mass of gas related to some reference gas. While the EPA pegs the number of orphaned wells in the millions, there are variations in the count, depending on how each state or organization defines what is and is not an orphaned well. A survey, for example, by the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission in 2018 put the range of orphaned and idle wells at around 560,000 to 1.1 million. According to the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC), the regulatory body that oversees Texas oil and natural gas development, an orphan well is an inactive and unplugged well that has not produced oil or natural gas for a minimum of 12 months. But the Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission defines an orphan as a well which has no owner or operator that can be found, or where the owner or operator is unwilling or unable to plug and abandon such a well. This JPT article described the hunt for the potentially hundreds of thousands of unknown, undocumented orphans across the country. In October 2021, the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) released a map showing the location of more than 81,000 documented orphan wells in 28 states that are eligible for funding under the BIL. In the spring of 2022, thanks in part to states documenting more than 40,000 additional orphan wells, EDF released an updated map showing more than 120,000 documented orphan wells in 30 states (Fig. 1).

The assessment of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions in China's chemical industry

The chemical industry has a large production scale, many products, and very complex processes, so estimating the greenhouse gas (GHG) it produces is not easy. Few comprehensive assessment models at the national level are studied. Emission sources of most models are not complete, and data are outdated. The paper conducts a comprehensive assessment of GHG emissions in China's chemical industry. The emission sources cover direct and indirect emissions. The chemical industry is divided into three main sub sectors to explore GHG flows. GHG flows are examined through chemical production and consumption, and then the emission reduction potential is predicted based on technological developments. The assessment results show that crude oil and coal are the main sources of direct GHG emissions. The indirect GHG emissions are mainly from North China and Northwest China. GHG emissions in the power grid regions are directly related to the distribution of the chemical industry in China. Coal chemical industry has the most GHG emissions. The analysis of driving factors shows that the output effect is the main factor of GHG emissions. Scenario analysis shows that the baseline scenario will reach 6195.95 Mt in 2030. Under the technological improvement scenarios, 589.01 Mt emission reduction can be achieved by 2030 compared with the baseline scenario. Based on the results of the study, this paper provides some policy recommendations.

Energy in the European Green Deal: impacts and recommendations for MENA countries

Abstract The European Union (EU) presented its new and ambitious programme at the end of 2019—the European Green Deal (EGD), which should align its economy to reach the goal of climate neutrality in 2050. A vital part of the deal aims for the energy sector within the leitmotif of supplying clean, affordable and secure energy. Because energy-related Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions accounted in 2020 for three-quarters of all GHG emissions of the EU, the most important pillar for the EGD to succeed is the energy sector. The deal does not function within a vacuum as it will impact other countries, including those with vast conventional energy resources and close ties to the EU, like nations from the region of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). This article assesses the deal’s impacts on MENA countries and includes recommendations concerning various aspects of low-carbon transition that could be applied. The EGD programme will be used as a reference scenario for those recommendations because of its universal character.

How G-7 countries are paving the way for net-zero emissions through energy efficient ecosystem?

Given the relevance of the most burning issues across the globe, it is time to take action regarding the recovery of environmental issues such as global warming and climate change. Concerning inconsistencies and gaps in the prevailing literature, this study aims to investigate the role energy efficiency played in the energy related greenhouse gas emissions. With the advancement in the technological innovation, the importance of digitalization and environmental related technological innovation. Based on the economic importance of the Group of Seven (G7) economies, this study examined the connection of these variables in the mentioned group economies throughout 1990–2020. Employing advanced panel econometric approaches, the study found that prevalence of slope heterogeneity, cross-section dependence, and the existence of long-run equilibrium relationship. Due to non-linear data properties, the study uses non-parametric (method of moment quantile regression) technique. The results suggest the progressive role of energy efficiency, digitalization, and environmental related innovations on the environmental sustainability. These are substantial factors of sustainability as they significantly reduce the energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. On the contrary, economic growth is a significant driver of energy related greenhouse gas emissions. The results are robust and their causal linkage is also explored. This study suggests the increased investment and encouragement of energy efficiency, digitalization, and environmental related technological innovation in the G7 economies to pave the way for net zero emissions.

Performance evaluation of Kipevu-III 120 MW power station and conversion to dual-fuel power plant

Diesel power plants use diesel engines as prime movers powered mainly by heavy fuel oil or industrial diesel oil and with potential for conversion to gas engines or dual fuel engines. The global concerns over prices of diesel and heavy fuel oil and energy related greenhouse gas emissions have created demand for natural gas as an alternative fuel for power generation by diesel power stations. This study involved a performance analysis of an operating diesel power plant and its potential conversion to dual fuel engine power plant. Dual fuel engines have reduced fuel costs and greenhouse gas emissions since natural gas is the cleanest fossil fuel. For a conventional diesel engine to run on diesel, the fuel injection system is modified to handle gas and a mixture of gas and diesel. Other modifications are the introduction of an electronic control unit, reduction in air fuel ratio, installation of a fuel mixer, and reduction of compression ratio. The conversion requires provision for natural gas storage facilities and supply system which were introduced in the proposed design modification. The study showed that dual fuel engine power plants have better performance indicators like lower specific fuel consumption, higher indicated and brake thermal efficiency, cheaper power produced, less emissions per unit power and thus reduced environmental impact. Conversion to dual fuel engines will reduce the cost of electricity generation, reduce emissions particularly Sulphur dioxide while accommodating fuel flexibility like use of biofuel to substitute diesel.

Energetic, economic, and greenhouse gas emissions assessment of biomass and solar photovoltaic systems for an industrial facility

The industrial sector is responsible for nearly 25% of direct and more than 35% of cumulative global energy-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This study evaluates the feasibility and comparative analysis of on-site solar photovoltaic (PV) and biomass-fed boilers based on historical energy consumption and demand to reduce dependence on grid-supplied electricity and coal-fired boiler for a rice processing industrial plant. The analysis includes energetic, economic, and GHG emissions assessments and covers (a) Solar PV systems, (b) Biomass fuels, and (c) Co-firing scenarios. Financial analysis of solar PV considers both company-owned and bank-financed systems of fixed and double axis tracking technologies. Biomass fuels include 100% wood, 100% rice husk, and a 50%–50% wood-rice husk mix. Historical energy consumption shows that annual electricity demand is 4,479 MWh, costing $537,480 and producing 2,307 tCO 2 emissions. Feasibility of 1MW, company-owned fixed axis solar PV plant shows a yearly electricity production of 1,544 MWh with 0.031 $/kWh levelized cost and reducing 733 tCO 2 with a payback period of 2.8 years. The base case scenario for boiler operations consists of 3,746 tons of coal burning, costing $427,075 and producing 11,840 tCO 2 emissions. Rice husk fuel study shows a 19% fuel cost savings, a 1.7-year payback period, and 11,612 tCO 2 GHG emission reductions. It is concluded that biomass-based rice husk fuel feedstock is the most suitable renewable energy source (RES) for this industrial facility and can reduce 82% of cumulative annual GHG emissions. Furthermore, energy efficiency improvements and off-site carbon credits provide additional opportunities to achieve net-zero GHG emissions for plant operations.

Research on the emission reduction effects of carbon trading mechanism on power industry: plant-level evidence from China

PurposeCarbon trading mechanism has been adopted to foster the green transformation of the economy on a global scale, but its effectiveness for the power industry remains controversial. Given that energy-related greenhouse gas emissions account for most of all anthropogenic emissions, this paper aims to evaluate the effectiveness of this trading mechanism at the plant level to support relevant decision-making and mechanism design.Design/methodology/approachThis paper constructs a novel spatiotemporal data set by matching satellite-based high-resolution (1 × 1 km) CO2 and PM2.5 emission data with accurate geolocation of power plants. It then applies a difference-in-differences model to analyse the impact of carbon trading mechanism on emission reduction for the power industry in China from 2007 to 2016.FindingsResults suggest that the carbon trading mechanism induces 2.7% of CO2 emission reduction and 6.7% of PM2.5 emission reduction in power plants in pilot areas on average. However, the reduction effect is significant only in coal-fired power plants but not in gas-fired power plants. Besides, the reduction effect is significant for power plants operated with different technologies and is more pronounced for those with outdated production technology, indicating the strong potential for green development of backward power plants. The reduction effect is also more intense for power plants without affiliation relationships than those affiliated with particular manufacturers.Originality/valueThis paper identifies the causal relationship between the carbon trading mechanism and emission reduction in the power industry by providing an innovative methodology for identifying plant-level emissions based on high-resolution satellite data, which has been practically absent in previous studies. It serves as a reference for stakeholders involved in detailed policy formulation and execution, including policymakers, power plant managers and green investors.

Evaluating Sustainable Transport Indicators for Metropolitan Areas in Developing Countries: The Case of Greater Jakarta

Background: Sustainable transport is fundamental to progress in realising the agenda of sustainable development, as a quarter of energy-related global greenhouse gas emissions come from the transport sector. In developing countries, metropolitan areas have adopted the agenda to better serve the urban population with safe, affordable, and environmentally-friendly transport systems. However, this drive must include relevant indicators and how their operationalisation can deal with institutional barriers, such as challenges to cross-sectoral coordination. Objective: This study aims to explore context-specific indicators for developing countries, focusing on the case of the Jakarta metropolitan area. Methods: Expert judgement was used to assess the selection criteria. The participants were experts from government institutions, non-government organisations, and universities. Results: The findings show that safety, public transport quality, transport cost, air pollution, and accessibility are contextual indicators for application in developing countries. Similarities are shown with the research results from other indexes/sets of indicators for developing countries, for example, the Sustainable Urban Transport Index (SUTI) of UN ESCAP. However, some of these indicators leave room for improvement, such as the balance between strategic and operational levels of application. Conclusion: Therefore, this research suggests that global sets of indicators should be adjusted before being implemented in particular developing country contexts.

Participation in domestic energy retrofit programmes: key spatio-temporal drivers

The Canadian government created the EcoENEGY Retrofit for Homes programme (2007–12) to improve residential energy efficiency and reduce emissions produced through energy use. The uptake of retrofits varied both spatially and temporally. This research examines spatio-temporal patterns of retrofit adoption to understand the drivers behind participation in the grant programme and assess how future grant-based programmes might improve the uptake of efficiency measures. Temporal analysis demonstrated continued growth of programme participation over its original period of availability, and this accelerated once the programme was extended for an additional year after its original closure date. However, some spatial correlations weakened, which may be attributable to changes in programme design during the extension period. Seasonal variation was also observed, with spikes in retrofit activity occurring in winter. A regression analysis for conversion rates in Ontario and British Columbia displayed significant positive correlations for high shelter costs (&gt;30% of household income) and households occupied by usual residents (regular occupants). Population density, median property value (only in Ontario) and units that were recently occupied demonstrated negative correlations. Spatial variation at both the city and neighbourhood levels suggests a greater degree of programme customisation is required to ensure uniform building stock improvement. <em><strong>Policy relevance</strong></em> Domestic retrofit will be a crucial component of every developed nation’s net zero strategy. For example, in Canada and the UK, houses account for 13% and 20% of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, respectively. This paper explores trends in the most recently completed national retrofit programme in Canada, demonstrating rates of adoption across the programme, the effects of programme design modification, and the value of an understood programme brand and format for uptake. Further, when faced with tighter deadlines, there is a weakening of the relationship between adoption and spatially linked attributes such as population density, and duration of occupancy. Conversely, a strengthening of the relationship with levels of education and household costs was observed in some jurisdictions. The evidence in this paper strengthens the case for long-term, actively managed retrofit programmes to enable the skills base and consumer interest towards market transformation.

Novel research methods to evaluate renewable energy and energy-related greenhouse gases: evidence from BRICS economies

This study examined renewable energy, energy efficiency which is very essential to boost up environmental quality. This research also takes other factors which has impact on greenhouse gas emissions in the BRICS nations between 2000 and 2019. On the other hand, this research differs from previous research in that it considers the impact of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Electricity on greenhouse gas emissions in BRICS economies, despite the fact that Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Electricity have the greatest impact on greenhouse gas emissions in BRICS economies. The influence of GDP and political risk index on energy-related greenhouse gas emissions also comes under the scope of this study. Further, the order of unit root was determined using cross-sectional dependency and slope heterogeneity. The results were achieved utilising moment quantile regression (MMQ). The analysis shows that GDP causes an increase in Energy-Related Greenhouse Gases (ERGHG) at the 25th, 50th, 75th and 90th quantiles. At the 25th, 50th, 75th and 90th quantiles, however, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Electricity reduce Energy-Related Greenhouse Gases. Furthermore, political risk index reduces Energy-Related Greenhouse Gas emissions. Moreover, policymakers should investigate the asymmetric behaviour of Energy Efficiency, Electricity from Renewable Energy and GDP when adopting BRICS economies energy, environment and growth policies based on empirical data.

Novel research methods to examine renewable energy and energy related greenhouse gases: evidence from novel panel methods

In the current time, the most distressing issue is emissions control and environmental recovery. All developed and developing economies are rapidly expanding their industrial sector and increasing energy use while struggling for environmental sustainability. This study aims to analyse whether renewable energy helps BRICS economies reduce energy related emissions. Also, the role of economic growth, research and development, and public–private partnership investment in energy is investigated during the period from 1990 to 2020. Using various panel data instruments, the results illustrate the slopes heterogeneity, panel cross-section dependence, and the long-run co-integration association between the variables. Using the novel method of moment quantile regression, this study found that economic growth adversely affects environmental quality by triggering energy related emissions. However, renewable energy consumption, research and development, and public–private partnership investment in energy significantly reduce energy related emissions in the region at all quantile (25th, 50th, 75th and 90th). Besides, this study found bidirectional causal nexus between economic growth, renewable energy, research and development, and the energy related greenhouse gas emissions, while unidirectional causality from public–private partnership investment to energy related emissions. Some relevant policies are suggested that could help tackle the issue of energy related emissions.

Energy efficiency and China's sustainable carbon neutrality target: evidence from novel research methods quantile on quantile regression approach

Since the last few decades, scholars and policy-makers have been struggling to find ways to achieve carbon neutrality target or a low carbon economy. To contribute to the existing literature regarding the said issue, this study aims to investigate whether energy efficiency could lead to achieving carbon neutrality target in the case of China. Also, this study analyses the association of economic growth to energy-related greenhouse gas emissions while using quarterly data over the period from 1990Q1 to 2014Q2. Empirical findings of the study suggest the mixed order of integration and Cointegration between economic growth, energy efficiency, and energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. This study employed a Quantile-on-Quantile regression approach to examine the long-run association at various quantiles. The estimated results asserted that energy efficiency holds a weaker relationship in the lower and medium quantiles, while relatively higher association to energy-related emission in the upper quantiles. On the other hand, economic growth and its squared are found significantly and highly associated with enhancing energy-related emissions in the country. Besides, the frequency domain causality indicates a causal association running from energy efficiency and economic growth to energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. This study recommends revised policies for energy efficiency and suggests that economic growth could be used as a remedial measure for environmental recovery by enhancing investment in the renewable energy sector, energy efficiency, and structural transformation of the industrial sector.

Thermal Rehabilitation of External Walls – Case Study

Abstract Both at national and international level, the present-day trends relate to the development of high-performance enclosing and insulation systems that make use of modern thermo-energetic rehabilitation methods. Thermal rehabilitation works for the envelope of a building or for the building elements forming the envelope concern the diminishing of the heat losses by increasing the thermal resistances of the enclosing elements and limiting air infiltrations through glazed elements and joints. In most Western European countries, national programmes aiming at the thermal protection of the buildings have been developed. The projects ran in gradual stages, starting after the energy crisis in 1973 and 1979, the outcome being a reduction of the energy consumption. According to the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive issued by the European Commission, at present, buildings are responsible for approximately 40% of EU energy consumption and 36% of the energy-related greenhouse gas emissions (https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/energy-efficiency/energy-efficient-buildings/energy-performance-buildings-directive_en). In the paper, a case study is presented, analysed from the point of view of energy efficiency through a new software for computing developed by the author called REBUILD, which leads to the choice of appropriate solutions for the thermal rehabilitation of an element of the building envelope. The recommended solution after the study is intended to bring the structure back to its optimal energy performance and to abide by the current regulations.

Developing a Multi-Regional Physical Supply Use Table framework to improve the accuracy and reliability of energy analysis

Physical Supply Use Tables overcome some of the main limitations of the commonly used Energy Extended Input Output Analysis by describing the Energy Conversion Chain in energy terms only. In this paper, we build on recent advances in the field to construct a Multi-Regional Physical Supply Use Table framework. We use data from the International Energy Agency and have developed open source R packages, thereby enabling easy adoption of the present work. The new framework enables analysts to take into consideration the trade in energy products and to track energy flows across regions. In addition, we expand the existing Physical Supply Use Table framework to provide the mathematical structure with symmetry, by adding a resource extraction matrix at the upstream end of the Energy Conversion Chain, thereby enabling reverse Input–Output calculations.Then, we demonstrate two important applications of the new multi-regional framework. First, we show how the framework can be used for energy security analysis, how the primary energy supply can be broken down by region of origin, and how the exposure to overseas suppliers can be quantified by energy product, and final demand sector. Second, we show how energy-related greenhouse gas emissions can be accounted for and disaggregated in terms of energy use by the energy industry, downstream energy use by final demand sectors, and methane leakages and flaring. The framework, which consistently binds energy products supplied to the economy to the Energy Conversion Chain, may be helpful for numerous subfields of energy analysis and modelling.

Public acceptance of sustainable energy innovations in the European Union: A multidimensional comparative framework for national policy

Public acceptance of sustainable energy innovations and policies is of crucial importance in enabling the transition to decarbonized energy systems necessary to meet the key climate targets of the Paris Agreement. This is particularly important in the context of the European Union, which is the third largest energy-related greenhouse gas emitter in the world. However, achieving acceptance is complex and requires improved understanding of the underlying conditions that are likely to motivate it. To contribute to this understanding and overcome common shortcomings in the literature, this paper presents a multidimensional and cross-national framework for the factors that have the potential to motivate both dimensions of acceptance, namely adoption and support. The innovations of interest are numerous and include electric vehicles, residential solar panels, energy-efficient home insulation, environmental taxes and incentives. The paper employs multilevel regression analysis and combines individual and contextual data from all the European Union nations to demonstrate the significance of various types of predictors in motivating acceptance. It is found that citizens’ personal capabilities and attitudes towards life satisfaction, climate change and the environment influence both dimensions of acceptance. Attitudes towards broader socio-political dimensions such as representation, equity and transparency primarily influence support, whereas national environmental and energy policy indicators primarily influence adoption. Overall, this paper provides evidence suggesting governments should simultaneously address both dimensions of acceptance, through a combination of different means: enhancing support through strategies that target attitudes and preferences, and market-based environmental policies that promote adoption at the household level.

Drivers of solar photovoltaic deployment in South African public universities: a Delphi study

PurposeSolar photovoltaic energy is the fastest growing renewable energy in South Africa, and deployment at public universities is critical in order to meet the high energy demand on campuses in a more sustainable manner. To promote and support deployment, it is necessary to know the factors that drive adoption of the technology. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify the factors which engender deployment of photovoltaic energy in public universities in South Africa.Design/methodology/approachThrough an extensive literature review, the factors which drive photovoltaic energy deployment were identified and a three round Delphi survey was conducted for panellists to rate the drivers. The data were analysed using SPSS Version 27, and the mean and inter-quartile range values were used to identify the significant drivers within the public university sector.FindingsThe findings suggested that the deployment of photovoltaic energy is engendered by the direct and indirect benefits, social influences and the relative advantage of photovoltaic energy usage. For instance, universities install photovoltaic energy because of the financial gains that are made through reduction of energy cost. The deployment is also motivated by the reduction of energy-related greenhouse gases, enhancement of university sustainability performance, and the contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals.Originality/valueA significant contribution to the body of knowledge regarding the drivers of photovoltaic energy deployment has been made in the paper from the perspective of a public university. The contribution fills the knowledge gap in South Africa by contributing valuable information to enable decision-makers to gain better understanding of the key issues that call for more attention in promoting and supporting photovoltaic energy deployment in the sector.

Trajectory, driving forces, and mitigation potential of energy-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in China's primary aluminum industry

As the world's largest primary aluminum producer, China's primary aluminum industry (PAI) faces a huge challenge in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, detailed research on presenting the historical trajectory of GHG emissions from China's PAI and identifying the main driving factors affecting its changes has not been completed thus far. This study quantifies the GHG emission trajectory of China's PAI from 1990 to 2018 and identifies the key driving factors affecting its changes. The results show that the total GHG emissions from China's PAI from 1990 to 2018 increased by approximately 18 times, reaching 481 Tg CO2-eq in 2018, of which 69 %, 17 %, and 14 % were electricity-related, fuel-related, and process-related, respectively. Additionally, the production activity effect is the main factor driving the increase in GHG emissions; however, the energy intensity and energy emission factor effects can effectively reduce GHG emissions. Based on this, scenario analysis is used to evaluate the GHG emission mitigation potential of China's PAI by 2030. According to our analysis, policy suggestions for mitigating the GHG emissions in China's PAI are proposed, including reducing the energy intensity, promoting clean energy use, controlling the production capacity, and decarbonizing electricity.

The Role of Renewable Energy Sources in Dynamics of Energy-Related GHG Emissions in the Baltic States

The deployment of renewable energy sources (RES) is an essential strategic objective of sustainable energy development in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Their growing contribution to the total primary energy supply can significantly facilitate the transition to a low-carbon economy. The paper provides findings from an in-depth comparative analysis of RES deployment trends during 2010–2019 in the Baltic countries in the context of energy policy documents of the European Union (EU). The dynamics of targeted RES indicators according to the Renewables Directive 2009/28/EC and National Programmes and the role of renewable energies in mitigating climate change are analysed. A key role of the heating and cooling sector in deploying RES is highlighted and a necessity to implement radical changes in the transport sector of the Baltic countries is revealed. The paper examines changes in energy-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the impact of driving factors in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and other countries of the Baltic Sea Region (BSR). The Kaya identity and the logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) method are used for the decomposition analysis. Based on the analysis conducted, the impact of population change, economic growth, decline of energy intensity, RES deployment and reduction of emission intensity on change of GHG emissions in countries of the BSR and, on average, in the EU-27 during 2010–2019 is revealed.

Energy-Related Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Poland from 2000 to 2018: An LMDI Decomposition Analysis Perspective

Purpose: The primary purpose of this paper is to carry out a multidimensional analysis of determinants of changes to GHG emissions in Poland between 2000 and 2018. This study found that GHG emissions generally followed an upward trend over the study period, although deviations in different directions were recorded in some years. This means that shifting to a low-carbon economy-as a way to counteract climate warming-poses a considerable challenge to Poland. It becomes imperative as the EU has intensified its measures taken to become climate-neutral. Design/Methodology/Approach: This paper contributes to research on climate change drivers related to energy use. The analysis was based on descriptive statistics and decomposition methods. The Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI), one of the most widely adopted forms of index decomposition analysis, was employed to identify the determinants of GHG emissions. This was based on the additive specification. Findings: This study identified rapid economic growth—and the corresponding increase in energy consumption primarily derived from fossil fuels, mainly including coal and lignite—as the main reason behind the increase in GHG emissions in Poland between 2000 and 2018. Moreover, it follows from the decomposition analysis that the reduction in GHG emissions was due to a decrease in GHG emissions per unit of energy, improvements in fuel conversion efficiency, a reduction in final energy consumption per unit of GDP, and a small extent-by population change. However, the positive impact of these factors on GHG reduction was smaller than the negative impact of economic growth. As a consequence of these differences, GHG emissions in Poland followed an upward trend. Practical implications: These considerations could help develop an active energy policy focused on climate neutrality. Originality/value: This document broadens and updates knowledge on the determinants of GHG emissions. Also, these findings can provide grounds for accelerating energy transformation processes in Poland.