IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v16y2023i14p5546-d1200013.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Study of the Decoupling of Economic Growth from CO 2 and HFCs Emissions in the EU27 Countries

Author

Listed:
  • Cristina Cautisanu

    (CERNESIM Environmental Research Center, Institute of Interdisciplinary Research, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, 700506 Iași, Romania)

  • Mariana Hatmanu

    (Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, 700506 Iași, Romania)

Abstract

Economic activities are directly supported by the natural environment, and in this context, it has become crucial to analyse the phenomenon of decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation. The negative effects of economic activities on the environment are clearly visible, and understanding how to separate economic growth from environmental harm is of utmost importance. This paper aims to study the degree of the decoupling of economic growth, measured by GDP, from environmental degradation, quantified through CO 2 and HFCs emissions, at the level of each EU27 country in the periods 2008–2012 and 2013–2020. In the analysis, graphical representations and statistical tests were utilised. In the first period, most of the EU27 countries registered negative levels for the variables considered, placing them into the negative coupling stage. In the second period, the evolution of the decoupling process was visible in all the countries, enabling them to make a significant transition to the relative or absolute stages. Overall, the Nordic countries could be observed as examples of best practices, managing to achieve the most desired stage of decoupling, i.e., the absolute one. These results are important for a wide range of stakeholders implicated in the preparation of programs, projects and policies dedicated to achieving economic growth in a sustainable manner.

Suggested Citation

  • Cristina Cautisanu & Mariana Hatmanu, 2023. "A Study of the Decoupling of Economic Growth from CO 2 and HFCs Emissions in the EU27 Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-23, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:14:p:5546-:d:1200013
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/14/5546/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/14/5546/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chen, Jiandong & Wang, Ping & Cui, Lianbiao & Huang, Shuo & Song, Malin, 2018. "Decomposition and decoupling analysis of CO2 emissions in OECD," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C), pages 937-950.
    2. Lazăr, Dorina & Minea, Alexandru & Purcel, Alexandra-Anca, 2019. "Pollution and economic growth: Evidence from Central and Eastern European countries," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 1121-1131.
    3. Romero, João P. & Gramkow, Camila, 2021. "Economic complexity and greenhouse gas emissions," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    4. Erasmia Kotroni & Dimitra Kaika & Efthimios Zervas, 2020. "Environmental Kuznets Curve in Greece in the period 1960-2014," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 10(4), pages 364-370.
    5. Taewook Huh, 2020. "Comparative and Relational Trajectory of Economic Growth and Greenhouse Gas Emission: Coupled or Decoupled?," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-13, May.
    6. Wang, Qunwei & Hang, Ye & Zhou, P. & Wang, Yizhong, 2016. "Decoupling and attribution analysis of industrial carbon emissions in Taiwan," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 728-738.
    7. Sorrell, Steve & Lehtonen, Markku & Stapleton, Lee & Pujol, Javier & Toby Champion,, 2012. "Decoupling of road freight energy use from economic growth in the United Kingdom," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 84-97.
    8. Kyle W. Knight & Juliet B. Schor, 2014. "Economic Growth and Climate Change: A Cross-National Analysis of Territorial and Consumption-Based Carbon Emissions in High-Income Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(6), pages 1-10, June.
    9. Canas, Angela & Ferrao, Paulo & Conceicao, Pedro, 2003. "A new environmental Kuznets curve? Relationship between direct material input and income per capita: evidence from industrialised countries," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 46(2), pages 217-229, September.
    10. Jana Chovancova & Juraj Tej, 2020. "Decoupling economic growth from greenhouse gas emissions: the case of the energy sector in V4 countries," Equilibrium. Quarterly Journal of Economics and Economic Policy, Institute of Economic Research, vol. 15(2), pages 235-251, June.
    11. Naqvi, Asjad & Zwickl, Klara, 2017. "Fifty shades of green: Revisiting decoupling by economic sectors and air pollutants," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 111-126.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Michael L. Polemis & Panagiotis Fotis & Panayiotis G. Tzeremes & Nickolaos G. Tzeremes, 2022. "On the examination of the decoupling effect of air pollutants from economic growth: a convergence analysis for the US," Letters in Spatial and Resource Sciences, Springer, vol. 15(3), pages 691-707, December.
    2. Long, Han & Feng, Genfu, 2024. "Does national ESG performance curb greenhouse gas emissions?," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 3(3).
    3. Marco Due~nas & Antoine Mandel, 2024. "Are EU low-carbon structural funds efficient in reducing emissions?," Papers 2408.01782, arXiv.org.
    4. Wang, Miao & Feng, Chao, 2021. "Towards a decoupling between economic expansion and carbon dioxide emissions in resources sector: A case study of China’s 29 non-ferrous metal industries," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    5. Mara Madaleno & Victor Moutinho, 2018. "Effects decomposition: separation of carbon emissions decoupling and decoupling effort in aggregated EU-15," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 181-198, December.
    6. Qinyi Huang & Yu Zhang, 2021. "Decoupling and Decomposition Analysis of Agricultural Carbon Emissions: Evidence from Heilongjiang Province, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-16, December.
    7. Kan, Siyi & Chen, Bin & Chen, Guoqian, 2019. "Worldwide energy use across global supply chains: Decoupled from economic growth?," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 250(C), pages 1235-1245.
    8. Cheng, Shulei & Wang, Ping & Chen, Boyang & Fan, Wei, 2022. "Decoupling and decomposition analysis of CO2 emissions from government spending in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    9. Ping Zhou & Hailing Li, 2022. "Carbon Emissions from Manufacturing Sector in Jiangsu Province: Regional Differences and Decomposition of Driving Factors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-17, July.
    10. Papież, Monika & Śmiech, Sławomir & Frodyma, Katarzyna, 2022. "Does the European Union energy policy support progress in decoupling economic growth from emissions?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    11. João Leitão & Joaquim Ferreira, 2021. "Dynamic Effects of Material Production and Environmental Sustainability on Economic Vitality Indicators: A Panel VAR Approach," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-20, February.
    12. Mihaela Simionescu & Adam Wojciechowski & Arkadiusz Tomczyk & Marcin Rabe, 2021. "Revised Environmental Kuznets Curve for V4 Countries and Baltic States," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-15, June.
    13. Frodyma, Katarzyna & Papież, Monika & Śmiech, Sławomir, 2022. "Revisiting the Environmental Kuznets Curve in the European Union countries," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    14. Jesús Lucindo & Marisa Feijóo & María A. González-Álvarez, 2024. "Is Europe prepared to live without emissions? A dynamic analysis of the energy transition in economic sectors," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 73(2), pages 671-730, August.
    15. Chien‐Chiang Lee & Godwin Olasehinde‐Williams, 2024. "Does economic complexity influence environmental performance? Empirical evidence from OECD countries," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(1), pages 356-382, January.
    16. V. R. Bityukova, 2022. "Environmental Consequences of the Transformation of the Sectoral Structure of the Economy of Russian Regions and Cities in the Post-Soviet Period," Regional Research of Russia, Springer, vol. 12(1), pages 96-111, March.
    17. Mazzanti, Massimiliano & Montini, Anna & Zoboli, Roberto, 2006. "Municipal Waste Production, Economic Drivers, and 'New' Waste Policies: EKC Evidence from Italian Regional and Provincial Panel Data," Climate Change Modelling and Policy Working Papers 12053, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM).
    18. Diogo Ferraz & Fernanda P. S. Falguera & Enzo B. Mariano & Dominik Hartmann, 2021. "Linking Economic Complexity, Diversification, and Industrial Policy with Sustainable Development: A Structured Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-29, January.
    19. Balland, Pierre-Alexandre & Broekel, Tom & Diodato, Dario & Giuliani, Elisa & Hausmann, Ricardo & O'Clery, Neave & Rigby, David, 2022. "Reprint of The new paradigm of economic complexity," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(8).
    20. Aleksandra Matuszewska-Janica & Dorota Żebrowska-Suchodolska & Urszula Ala-Karvia & Marta Hozer-Koćmiel, 2021. "Changes in Electricity Production from Renewable Energy Sources in the European Union Countries in 2005–2019," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-27, October.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:14:p:5546-:d:1200013. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.