دانلود رایگان مقاله انگلیسی عوامل موثر بر انتشار CO2 در مرکوسور: نقش رشد اقتصادی و انرژی تجدیدپذیر و تجدیدناپذیر - اشپرینگر 2018

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to analyze the impact of energy consumption (divided into renewable and non-renewable sources) and income on CO2 emissions within the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) model for the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR). To do so, the annual panel data collected during the 1990–2014 periods was used. The CO2 variable, representing carbon dioxide emissions in metric tons per capita, was used as a proxy for the emission of pollutants. The annual data were obtained from the World Bank (World Development Indicators). The sample consisted of the five MERCOSUR member countries: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Venezuela, comprising a period of 25 consecutive years. The results showed that energy consumption from renewable sources had a negative impact on CO2 emissions, while the energy consumption from non-renewable sources had a positive impact. The positive impact of economic development on CO2 emissions was also seen. In addition, this study supports the validity of the EKC hypothesis for the MERCOSUR because GDP (real output) leads to environmental degradation while GDP2 reduces the level of gas emissions.

Conclusions and policy implications

The objective of this research was to investigate the impact of energy consumption—both renewable and non-renewable— and income on CO2 emissions within the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) model for MERCOSUR countries. Four hypotheses were raised: H1—there is a positive and significant relationship between income and emission of pollutants in MERCOSUR countries; H2—there is a negative and significant relationship between consumption of renewable energy and emission of pollutants in MERCOSUR countries; H3—there are positive and significant relationships between consumption of non-renewable energy and emission of pollutants in MERCOSUR countries; and H4—there is a quadratic relationship between income and emission of pollutants, as in the EKC hypothesis.

On the basis of the results presented, it was possible to confirm the four hypotheses of the research. With the estimation of Eqs. 1 and 2, hypotheses 3 and 4 were confirmed, as the consumption of renewable and non-renewable energy, respectively, negatively and positively impact CO2 emissions. With the estimation of Eqs. 3 and 4, it was possible to confirm hypothesis 1 and 4, in addition to hypotheses 2 and 3, thereby confirming the positive impact of economic development, measured by GDP, on CO2 emissions, and also confirming the hypothesis of EKC.

Empirical results reported in this research are robust and reliable due to the use of appropriate estimation techniques. The elasticities found imply major economic policy implications for MERCOSUR. Policy measures which constrain energy consumption slow down economic growth. When the economy grows, demand for energy also increases. However, this path is energy-saving and reduces the share of nonrenewable energy and increases the share of renewable energy for the lower levels of CO2 emissions. Policymakers should focus more on public awareness of renewable energy and environmental quality, mainly in solar and wind power, whose sources of generation are abundant in MERCOSUR countries.