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The Drivers of Long-run CO2 Emissions: A Global Perspective since 1800

Author

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  • Sofia Teives Henriques

    (University of Southern Denmark)

  • Karol J. Borowiecki

    (University of Southern Denmark)

Abstract

Fossil-fuel-related carbon dioxide emissions have risen dramatically since 1800. We identify the long-run drivers of CO2 emissions for a sample of twelve developed economies using an extended Kaya decomposition. By considering biomass and carbon-free energy sources along with fossil fuels we are able to shed light on the effects of past and present energy transitions on CO2 emissions. We find that at low levels of income per capita, fuel switching from biomass to fossil fuels is the main contributing factor to emission growth. Scale effects, especially income effects, become the most important emission drivers at higher levels of income and also dominate the overall long-run change. Technological change is the main offsetting factor. Particularly in the last decades, technological change and fuel switching have become important contributors to the decrease in emissions in Europe. Our results also individualize the different CO2 historical paths across parts of Europe, North America and Japan.

Suggested Citation

  • Sofia Teives Henriques & Karol J. Borowiecki, 2014. "The Drivers of Long-run CO2 Emissions: A Global Perspective since 1800," Working Papers 0062, European Historical Economics Society (EHES).
    • Handle: RePEc:hes:wpaper:0062
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. João Tovar Jalles, 2019. "Polluting Emissions and GDP: Decoupling Evidence from Brazilian States," Working Papers REM 2019/0104, ISEG - Lisbon School of Economics and Management, REM, Universidade de Lisboa.
    3. Lima, Fátima & Nunes, Manuel Lopes & Cunha, Jorge & Lucena, André F.P., 2016. "A cross-country assessment of energy-related CO2 emissions: An extended Kaya Index Decomposition Approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 115(P2), pages 1361-1374.
    4. Paul Warde & Astrid Kander & Sofia Teives Henriques & Hana Nielsen & Viktoras Kulionis, 2016. "International trade and the energy intensity in Europe, 1870-1935," Working Papers 16026, Economic History Society.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    CO2 emissions; Kaya decomposition; Energy transition;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • N70 - Economic History - - Economic History: Transport, International and Domestic Trade, Energy, and Other Services - - - General, International, or Comparative
    • O44 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Environment and Growth
    • Q40 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - General
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming
    • Q5 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics

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