Energy Use and Sulphur Dioxide Emissions in Asia

This paper presents a review of energy use in 22 selected countries of Asia and estimates the anthropogenic emission of sulphur dioxide (SO₂) for the selected countries, both at national and disaggregated sub-country regional levels. The paper also makes a comparative assessment of the Asian countries in terms of SO₂emission intensity (i.e. emission per GDP), emission per capita and emission density (i.e. emission per unit area). Total SO₂emission in the region was estimated to be about 38 million tons in 1990. Five countries, China, India, South Korea, Japan and Thailand, accounted for over 91% of the regional SO₂emission. Coal use had the dominant share (81%) of the total emission from the region. Among the economic sectors, industry contributed the largest share (49%) to the total emissions of the selected countries as a whole, followed by the power sector (30%). These findings suggest the need for mitigation strategies focussed on the industry and power sectors of the major emitting countries in Asia.     

多维度高质量城镇化对能源消费碳排放的传导机制研究

碳排放研究一直是国际气候变化领域研究的热点,高质量的城镇化有利于碳排放减少及全球气候变化减缓。本文从人口、土地、经济三个维度构建高质量城镇化评价指标体系,对2005—2019年中国30个省域的高质量城镇化水平进行评价,在理论机制分析的基础上利用中介效应模型验证了三个维度高质量城镇化对能源消费碳排放的中介效应。结果表明：不同维度的高质量城镇化水平对碳排放的影响不同,当前的人口高质量城镇化具有显著碳减排效果,经济高质量城镇化也具有一定碳减排作用,但现阶段土地高质量城镇化增加了碳排放;不同维度的高质量城镇化与能源消费碳排放之间存在不同的作用机制。具体而言,劳动力结构转型在人口高质量城镇化与碳排放间不存在中介效应,土地财政在土地高质量城镇化与碳排放间存在完全中介效应,经济集聚在经济高质量城镇化与碳排放间存在遮掩效应。     

多视角下东北地区城市碳排放责任核算与分布特征研究

城市作为经济发展和人口聚集的中心,已经成为全球应对气候变化的核心区域,核算碳排放责任并分析其分布特征对于制定城市低碳发展路径至关重要。东北地区作为我国的老工业基地,其“能源结构偏煤,产业结构偏重”的区域发展特征严重制约了东北地区的减排进程,开展碳排放责任研究有助于引导东北地区城市低碳发展。本研究分别从“生产者责任原则”“消费者责任原则”“供应者责任原则”三个视角构建碳排放责任核算模型,计算了东北地区36个城市的碳排放,并分析城市碳排放的差异性分布特征。研究结果显示,不同类型的城市在多种责任原则下的碳排放存在差异,碳排放的分布特征与城市的资源禀赋、产业结构和经济发展水平相关。本研究将为东北地区城市的碳排放责任分配提供理论依据和数据支持,并为其他城市的节能减排提供参考。     

Energy transition in South and South-East Asia

Energy transition is the process whereby the volume and proportion of commercial energy increases so as to replace traditional fuels as the main energy source. In South and South-East Asia the extent to which this transition has taken place varies within and between countries. In general, in the urban areas, the process is more advanced than in rural areas. It is also more advanced in the larger towns than the smaller ones and more advanced within higher income groups. In rural areas industry is a large consumer of traditional energy and many rural peoples earn their livelihoods as suppliers of traditional energy to industry. For both economic and social reasons the transition process has been slower in rural households than in urban households. This must change as for much of the rural areas of South and South-East Asia, increasing population and increasing energy demand are creating pressures on the biomass which cannot be sustained.     

Devising an integrated methodology for analyzing energy use and CO2 emissions from Taiwan's petrochemical industries

Input-output modeling and multiplier analysis are used to assess Taiwan's five petrochemical industries, based upon their economic contribution and potential impacts on energy consumption and CO2 emission. In addition, a consolidated index system was developed for evaluating energy and economic efficiencies as well as targets for CO2 reduction. Results indicate that petrochemical materials (PM) make a major contribution to economic development, with lesser contributions from plastic materials (PL) and artificial fibres (AF). PM has the highest energy multiplier while PL has the largest induced potential for energy consumption. Plastic and rubber products (PP, RP) are relatively insignificant energy consumers. AF has the highest CO2 multiplier, and its induced potential for CO2 emission is the most significant. The consolidated index shows that the upstream petrochemical industries perform rather poorly in an integrated view of economic, energy, and CO2 emission, and should be seen as the primary targets for CO2 reduction. Investment of the petrochemical industries in Taiwan should be adjusted to improve energy efficiency, economic bases, and lower CO2 emissions.     

基于超效率DEA模型的中国能源效率测算与实证研究

随着城市化和工业化进程的加快,在能源需求量日益扩大的同时,二氧化碳排放量也快速增长,中国面临着越来越严峻的能源和环境形势。为了实现“十二五”规划节能减排目标及2030 年实现碳峰值的承诺,提高能源效率和碳减排成为了我国经济发展的当务之急。本文选取与能源效率存在密切关系的产业结构、技术进步、能源消费结构和经济发展水平作为主要影响因素,基于超效率DEA 模型对中国1980-2011 年的能源效率进行了测算,利用VEC 模型分析发现能源效率与产业结构、技术进步、能源消费结构和经济发展水平之间存在长期的协整关系;同时,在此基础上利用脉冲响应函数和方差分解模型就我国能源效率与其影响因素之间的短期动态关系作进一步分析,结果显示,产业结构、能源消费结构、技术进步对能源效率得提升有积极的正效应,而经济发展水平对其有一定的负面影响,从各因素对能源效率的贡献百分比来看, 产业结构比例对能源效率的贡献最大, 然后依次是经济发展水平、能源消费结构和技术进步。最后结合以上分析,从加大研发收入、调整产业结构、优化能源消费结构、提升技术利用水平、发展清洁能源技术、推广新能源使用与技术扩散能方面提出了可行性建议与对策。     

云南省经济系统行业碳排放强度分析

全球气候变暖是人类面临的重大环境问题,经济活动所排放的温室气体可能是造成这一气候变化的主要因素.作为我国首批发展低碳经济的试点省份之一,云南省面临着从何处入手实施碳减排和应采取何种路径的难题.基于2007年云南省投入产出表的数据,计算了云南省经济系统及行业的碳排放强度.结果表明,云南省经济系统的CO2排放总量为16.96亿t,单位增加值的CO2e排放强度为4.52t/万元.从行业来看,碳排放强度大的多数为资源型产业.分析了云南省碳排放强度大的原因,提出了云南省经济实现碳减排的主要措施.     

Taking Venezuela back to the sustainability path: The role of financial development and economic integration in low‐carbon transition

Environmental protection and sustainable development are connected. Such connection is considered highly important for Venezuela, where fossil fuel abundance has created economic and environmental challenges. Surprisingly, only limited attention has been directed to identifying policy options for charting the path to sustainable development in the economy. Contributing to filling this gap in the literature, this study examines whether financial development, de facto and de jure conditions in trade and financial integration can trigger long‐term economic shifts that will change the trajectory of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in the economy using a novel estimation approach—dynamic simulations of autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) models. The empirical modelling framework incorporates the impact of population, economic growth, energy intensity and government consumption expenditure. ARDL‐bounds test provides evidence that the variables are cointegrated. Long‐run estimates from the dynamic ARDL analysis show that de facto and de jure conditions in trade and financial components of economic integration offer varied policy options for carbon mitigation in Venezuela. Population size, energy intensity, government consumption expenditure and de facto condition in financial integration have increasing impact on CO₂ emissions, exacerbating suitability challenges in the economy. On the other hand, positive shocks in financial development, de facto condition in trade integration and de jure condition in financial integration have a mitigation effect on CO₂ emissions. Overall, financial development, trade integration and the control of cross‐border financial flows are needed economic conditions that can accelerate a quick transition to a low‐carbon develpoment in Venezuela.     

Toward a CO2 zero emissions energy system in the Middle East region

Climate change and energy security are global challenges requiring concerted attention and action by all of the world’s countries. Under these conditions, energy supplier and exporter countries in the Middle East region are experiencing further challenges, such as increasing domestic energy demand while energy exports have to concurrently be kept at high levels. Middle East countries process the largest proven oil and gas reserves in the world and contribute a large fraction of the world’s CO₂ emissions from the use of these as fuels both domestically and internationally. This paper addresses different policies that could dramatically change the future course of the Middle East region toward a zero CO₂ emission energy system. To this aim, an integrated energy supply–demand model has been developed to analyze required commitments including renewable energy and energy efficiency targets and the potential of nuclear power, all of which should need to be considered in order to reduce CO₂ emissions by 2100. The results indicate that nearly 43% of the global energy of the Middle East region can be supplied from non-fossil fuel resources in 2100.     

基于STIRPAT模型的碳排放驱动因子研究——以黑龙江省为例

定量分析碳排放驱动因素,对优化能源结构、调整产业结构、推进技术进步、发展低碳经济具有重要的理论和现实意义.利用碳排放估算模型,测算了黑龙江省1995-2012年能源消费的碳排放量.基于扩展的STIRPAT模型,实证研究了各驱动因子对碳排放总量的影响及其驱动程度.结果表明,能源结构、经济发展水平、城市化率、人口总量对碳排放量有正向驱动作用,而产业结构、能源强度对碳排放总量的增加具有抑制作用,提出有效促进能源消费结构优化、加大产业结构调整、大力推进技术创新是实现黑龙江省低碳经济发展的有效路径.     

The role of electricity in sustainable development

Current projections estimating world population growth read in conjunction with corresponding projections of increased world energy consumption, point to electricity as the cleaner fuel of the future, especially because of its high efficiency and low levels of pollution. Due mostly to the fact that the electrical end-use devices are considerably more efficient than those using other forms of energy, most developed countries show decreasing curves of energy intensity as technologies become more sophisticated and shift over to increased reliance on electricity. It is therefore argued in this article that a gradual shift away from fossil fuels to electricity is a promising possibility to bring down global air pollution and emissions of greenhouse gases to acceptable levels. Examples are given of greater efficiency achieved by electrification. Overall gains in energy efficiency from the change over from fossil fuels to electricity, are possible even in situations where the electricity is generated by fossil fuel combustion, despite the loss of primary energy in the conversion process. The article also presents electricity generating projects designed for developing countries and countries with economies in transition. The generation of electricity from the combustion of renewable sources (biomass waste), fossil fuels, and other innovative methods are outlined.     

Indicators for sustainable energy development in Thailand

This article examines energy priorities for Thailand from the economic, social and environmental perspectives of sustainable development. The article uses a set of indicators devised by the International Atomic Energy Agency in partnership with other international agencies and research institutes in seven countries. Thailand's energy efficiency in the 1980s and 1990s are analysed using energy intensity indicators, and possible impacts on sustainable energy development are highlighted. The early 1990s in particular was an important period for Thailand, as the country was at the height of its economic growth, and a number of energy efficiency and conservation programmes were launched. Energy intensity indicators show continuing and faster growth in energy consumption relative to economic activity. The financial crisis in the late 1990s did halt growth in energy consumption, with positive consequences on environmental emissions, but only temporarily as Thailand's economy quickly started to recover in 2000. Notwithstanding the financial crisis, the other indicators show significant progress in economic and social dimensions.     

Causal interactions between environmental degradation,renewable energy,nuclear energy and real GDP: a dynamic panel data approach

Renewable energy as well as nuclear energy are low carbon power that presents the life cycle emissions of greenhouse gases than fossil fuel energy. However, analyzing the relationship between the consumption of renewable energy, consumption of nuclear energy, CO₂ emissions and economic growth is crucial for the economic and energy policy decision; we address this question for developed countries. This paper deals with the relationships between nuclear energy, environmental degradation, real GDP and renewable energy. We apply a panel data model for a global panel consisting of nine developed countries during the period 1990–2013. The group studied consists of Canada, France, Japan, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and the USA. The empirical findings suggest that: (1) a causal link between emissions and real income, (2) a unidirectional causality running from renewable energy to nuclear energy, (3) a unidirectional causal relationship running from capital to environmental degradation, (4) a unidirectional causal relationship running from income to nuclear energy consumption, since the growth hypothesis is valid, (5) a unidirectional causality running from capital to income, (6) no an outstanding role of renewable energy use in the contribution of CO₂ emissions.     

Indicators for sustainable energy development in Mexico

This article presents a summary of a study on the application to the Mexican energy sector of a core set of indicators for sustainable energy development (ISED), developed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The study focused on the elaboration of socio‐economic and environmental indicators related to energy production and use, and was aimed at assessing Mexico's existing energy policies and identifying strategies and possible policies that could bring about improvements in major priority areas: energy intensity, atmospheric emissions, energy import dependency and use of renewables. While positive trends have been observed in relation to energy intensity and atmospheric emissions, Mexico is becoming more dependent on imports of gasoline, natural gas and other high‐value secondary energy sources, while exporting significant amounts of primary fuels, such as crude oil. Also, no significant increase has been observed in the use of renewable sources of energy. Social, economic and environmental policies need to be formulated for the energy sector and related investments (public and private) reinforced so that all economic sectors have access to energy from cleaner and more diverse sources.     

碳排放与经济增长关系及驱动因素分析——以西北地区为例

选取2000--2010年我国西北地区（陕西、甘肃、青海、宁夏、新疆）5个省区能源消费数据和经济数据作为样本数据,根据IPCC碳排放计算指南,测算出西北各地区的碳排放量;采用脱钩理论对西北地区碳排放与经济增长脱钩状态进行分析,运用LMDI分解方法构建碳排放因素分解模型深入研究其驱动因素.研究结论显示,2001-2010年西北地区经济增长与碳排放的脱钩状态趋于不稳定状态,其中2002年、2004年为强脱钩,2001年、2007年、2009年、2010年为弱脱钩,2003年、2005年、2008年为扩展性负脱钩,2006年为增长连接;经济规模持续扩大是西北地区碳排放快速增长的关键因素,能源强度下降是抑制西北地区碳排放增长的主要因素,产业结构优化升级和能源结构调整是控制碳排放增加的潜在因素.     

基于半参数面板数据模型的江苏省经济增长与水污染排放关系实证研究

本文以江苏省为研究区域,采用1990—2013年江苏省市级面板数据,基于单位根检验和面板协整检验,运用可拓展的随机性环境影响评估模型(STIRPAT)和参数、半参数固定效应回归方法,对经济增长与工业COD排放之间的关系展开研究。研究发现,江苏省经济增长与工业COD排放之间存在倒U形曲线关系,即全省工业COD排放随经济的发展呈现先增长后降低的趋势,同时人口增长对水污染物排放影响很大,二者之间的环境库兹涅茨曲线表明了经济持续发展能够协调并能解决其与水污染排放之间的困境。本研究丰富了社会经济发展与水污染关系在市级尺度层面的实证研究,为"十三五"期间江苏省水污染治理提供了政策依据。     

Greenhouse gas emission reductions in the post-Kyoto period: Emission intensity changes required under the 'contraction and convergence' approach

Various approaches have been proposed for allocating commitments to countries regarding the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions. One of these methods is the ‘contraction and convergence’ approach, which defines emission permits on the basis of converging per capita emissions under a contracting global emission profile. The approach is unique in its simplicity. Only two major issues need to be negotiated and agreed upon: the target atmospheric concentration of CO₂ and the date when the entitlements are to converge at equal per capita allocations. According to the contraction and convergence approach, developing countries can continue their current emission trends, whereas industrialized countries should reduce their emissions quite dramatically. This regime represents a shift away from the current approach towards defining commitments for all parties and their evolution over the long term. This article analyses how allocation schemes determined by the contraction and convergence approach might affect certain OECD and non‐OECD countries. Results for eleven countries selected for analysis (United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan, China, Venezuela, Thailand, Brazil, India and Indonesia) reveal that trends observed in the past few decades in most industrialized countries will lead to the contraction and convergence target.     

Meeting the climate change challenge: a scan of greenhouse gas emissions in BC communities

The Canadian province of British Columbia (BC) is taking significant steps towards climate change mitigation, including a carbon tax on fossil fuels and legislation that mandates greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions within public sector organisations and GHG reduction targets for municipalities. This paper carries out a preliminary scan of the GHG emissions of BC communities using the provincially mandated Community Energy and Emissions Inventory reports. We map trends in energy consumption and emissions per capita while uncovering correlations between these variables and land-use planning, geographic, and demographic variables. These data have shown that: (1) energy consumption in BC is an adequate proxy for GHG emissions; (2) transportation, more than buildings, is a strong driver of overall GHG emissions; (3) building emissions are not likely to be strongly influenced by dwelling type, but density of buildings is crucial; (4) geographic location influences emissions; and (5) population size and age do not appear to influence per capita emissions. These findings are particularly important as they suggest that the potentially intransigent factors of income and population size need not be barriers to achieving significant GHG reductions. The policy onus thus falls squarely on transportation planning, land-use, energy conservation, and fuel switching. This in turn highlights the importance of deeper underlying sociocultural and political preferences, which shape the behaviours that have a strong bearing on emissions profiles.     

Structural and technological changes of greenhouse gas emissions during the transition period in Polish industry

We analyzed the patterns of energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Polish industry arising during the transition from a centrally planned economy to a market economy. A method of analyzing industry energy use and GHG emissions is discussed. Using this method, the impact of changes in industrial production value, the share of specific industry branches in the total industrial production, energy intensity, and the mix of the energy carriers in the 1989–1993 period has been analyzed. The last year of the analyzed period shows favorable trends in efficiency and signs of production structure shift to a less energy-intensive one. Economic reform implemented after 1989, which released energy carriers' prices from government control, had important effects on the industrial sector. Energy efficiency and emission intensity trends of 1992–1994 were favorable; if they continue, production will return to 1989 levels with much lower energy consumption and significantly decreased GHG emissions.

     

Panel heterogeneous distribution analysis of trade and modernized agriculture on CO2 emissions: The role of renewable and fossil fuel energy consumption

In line with the global target of reducing climate change and its impact, this study explored the causal relationship between CO₂ emissions, modernized agriculture, trade openness, aggregate and disaggregate energy consumption in 14 African countries from 1990–2013 using a panel quantile estimation procedure. The empirical results showed that value addition to agricultural commodities declines CO₂ emissions in countries with high pollution levels. The study revealed a positive nexus between CO₂ emissions and energy consumption homogeneously distributed across quantiles. Trade openness was found to lower CO₂ emissions in countries with lower and higher levels of environmental pollution. While fossil fuel energy consumption was found to exacerbate CO₂ emissions, renewable energy consumption confirmed its mitigating effect on environmental pollution. The institution of climate‐smart agricultural options will sustainably increase productivity and income while adapting to climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Diversification of energy technologies with clean and modern energy sources like renewables avoid the over‐dependence on fossil fuels for agricultural purposes. Trade policies can stimulate flows of technology and investment opportunities for specialization in production and economies of scale. Hence, the consideration of policies that boost agricultural sector productivity and create an efficient market for international trade in Africa will help in improving livelihoods.