Predictors of National CO2 Emissions: Do International Commitments Matter?

• In Event: 103 - Regular Session. Environmental Sociology 2

Abstract

Carbon dioxide emissions are the main cause of anthropogenic climate change and play a central role in discussions of climate change mitigation. Previous research has demonstrated that national CO2 emissions are driven mainly by population size and wealth. However, the variation of per capita emissions of nations with similar conditions of the standard of living is very huge. In this paper we investigate the drivers of national per capita CO2 emissions over and above the known factors. Particularly, we extend previous research by taking countries’ shares of imports and exports, indicators of political interventions such as taxes and energy prices, and the use of regenerative energy sources. Moreover, we also wonder whether international commitments, such as the ones made by many nations at the last climate summit in Paris 2015 matter. Using the longest available observation period from 1980 to 2014 and estimating fix effects panel models we find that CO2 emissions per capita increase linearly with GDP. Hence, in accordance with former research we find no environmental Kuznets curve. However, higher energy prices and the availability of alternative energy sources reduce emissions. Furthermore, voluntary international environmental commitments also motivate countries to reduce CO2 emissions.

Authors

• Axel Franzen, University of Bern

• Sebastian Mader, University of Bern