Economic crisis and environment: interactions and contribution to the formation of policies

Postgraduate Thesis uoadl:1332439 695 Read counter

Unit:
Κατεύθυνση Στρατηγικές Διαχείρισης Περιβάλλοντος
Library of the School of Science
Deposit date:
2017-03-05
Year:
2017
Author:
Batsinilas Panagiotis
Supervisors info:
Δρ. Σ. Μοιρασγεντής,
Κύριος Ερευνητής Εθνικού Αστεροσκοπείου Αθηνών
Δρ. Ε. Λέκκας,
Καθηγητής ΕΚΠΑ
Δρ. Α. Μερτζάνης,
Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής ΤΕΙ Στερεάς Ελλάδας
Original Title:
Οικονομική κρίση και περιβάλλον: αλληλεπιδράσεις και συμβολή στη διαμόρφωση πολιτικών
Languages:
Greek
Translated title:
Economic crisis and environment: interactions and contribution to the formation of policies
Summary:
Environmental problems, especially “climate change” due to significant increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gases, have been internationally debated for decades. Among the greenhouses gases, carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most important one and is responsible for more than 70% of the greenhouse effect. There has been noticed a decrease in CO2 emissions in the recent years both in the European Union and Greece. The aim of this study is to determine the driving factors that have influenced the progression of CO2 emissions in the energy sectors of the Greek Economy for the period 2000-2014. The domains researched were the industrial, power sector, residential, transports, services, agriculture and refineries.
To achieve the above, a certain method has been utilized which is Log Mean Divisia Index (LMDI). The LMDI method introduced by Ang & Liu (2001) and is the most frequently IDA method because of its several theoretical and practical advantages. Specifically, it does provide perfect decomposition without residuals terms and is also consistent in aggregation. Also, it is able to handle zero values and used in either additive or multiplicative form.
In each sector, except for those of power and transports, two main scenaria have been fabricated and examined, in order to evaluate –both with accuracy and complicity- the factors which influence the progression of CO2 emissions. In the first one (scenario), the sectors are being analyzed considering as much the direct emissions released upon fossil fuels combustion as the indirect ones which are related to the generation of electric energy, which is used from the above sectors. In the second scenario only the direct emissions are taking account. Moreover, the period in question has been divided into two sub-period (2000-2007 and 2007-2014) so that the impact of the economic growth of the first period and the prolonged recession that the Greek Economy has incurred since 2007 and onwards can been defined. Finally, the equation of decomposition analysis was formulated based on the specifics characteristics of each sectors.
The outcome of our analysis displays the economic activity as the prevalent factor which influenced the CO2 in at least all sectors. In the productive sectors (industrial, power sector, tertiary and freight transport) the increase of activity for the period 2000-2007 was conducive to the increase of CO2 emissions, whereas during the recession period (2007-2014) was conducive to their decrease. In the households (buildings and transports) the odds are respective to the first period i.e. the CO2 emissions are increased as the result of the living conditions’ improvement. The only branch where the economic activity and CO2 emissions do not seem to be influenced by the crisis is the sector of refineries.
During the first period (2000-2007) improvement in energy intensity is registered in industry, households and transportation. This is relevant to the implementation of certain programs for power saving. On, the contrary, during the same period on tertiary sector the energy intensity increased implying some growth without appropriate use of this energy. These inclinations are partially reversing during the second period.
During the economic crisis there seems to be a twist in preference towards certain sectors (mainly the residential and the tertiary one) regarding the electric energy. This, may most likely be related to increase of taxation on oil products as well as to social behaviors. This progress influences the emissions in two ways: on the one hand the generation of electric energy comes along with significant CO2 emissions, on the other hand, during the period 2000-2014 in the power sector there has been registered an increase in the shares of renewable sources of energy, natural gas and the imports, advances which contribute to the improvement of the emission factor of the electric system and thereby the decrease of emissions.
Epitomizing, the question lies to whether the Greek Economy when enters a rising orbit, the CO2 emissions will start increasing in a fast pace or the environmental invasions being implemented during the period 2000-2014 concerning the energy intensity and the emission factors, will still be able to maintain their level to the current ones, even more to contribute to the accomplishment of environmental targets which Greece has set for transition towards an economy defined by the low emissions of CO2.
Main subject category:
Science
Other subject categories:
Geology
Keywords:
Decomposition analysis, Energy sector, CO2 Emissions, Greece, Economic crisis
Index:
Yes
Number of index pages:
5
Contains images:
Yes
Number of references:
64
Number of pages:
135
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