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http://dx.doi.org/10.15266/KEREA.2020.29.3.389

Drivers of Carbon Decoupling in Transportation Sector and the Effect of Energy Transition: Panel Analysis of 25 OECD Countries  

Lim, Hyungwoo (Department of Economics, Yonsei University)
Jo, Ha-Hyun (Department of Economics, Yonsei University)
Publication Information
Environmental and Resource Economics Review / v.29, no.3, 2020 , pp. 389-418 More about this Journal
Abstract
Some OECD countries are showing signs of decoupling in the transportation sector. In terms of sustainable development, the decoupling of economic activities and greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector is very important. This study calculated a decoupling index of greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector for 25 OECD countries. Also this study analyzed the impact of energy transition on decoupling regimes. According to the analysis, a considerable number of countries have reached the decoupling phase, and some countries have shown strong decoupling regime in which greenhouse gas emissions are reduced despite economic growth. From ordered panel logit analysis, energy transition had significant impact on achieving decoupling phase. Electrification of transport had a positive effect on the decoupling, while the gasification was not significant. In addition, small traffic, high urbanization rates, strong environmental policies, and high trade opening have had significant effects on achieving decoupling.
Keywords
Economic growth; Carbon emissions in the transportation sector; Decoupling index; Energy transition; Electrification in the transportation sector;
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