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Climbing the electricity ladder generates carbon Kuznets curve downturns

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  • Paul J. Burke

Abstract

This paper examines why some countries have experienced environmental Kuznets curve (EKC)-type reductions in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, while others have not. The hypothesis that climbing to the upper rungs of the electricity ladder (nuclear power and modern renewables) has been the primary mechanism via which countries have achieved substantial reductions in per capita CO2emissions is tested using a binomial dependent variable modelling approach for a sample of 105 countries. The findings suggest that electricity mix transitions caused by long-run growth in per capita incomes are indeed the primary determinant of carbon Kuznets curve downturns. The paper explores additional mechanisms via which carbon Kuznets curves may have been generated, but the results indicate that these are of lesser overall importance than the electricity mix effect. The evidence also suggests that countries with larger fossil fuel endowments are less likely to experience carbon Kuznets curve downturns, an additional curse of natural resources.
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  • Paul J. Burke, 2012. "Climbing the electricity ladder generates carbon Kuznets curve downturns," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 56(2), pages 260-279, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ajarec:v:56:y:2012:i:2:p:260-279
    DOI: j.1467-8489.2011.00572.x
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    1. Rohan Best & Paul J. Burke, 2020. "Energy mix persistence and the effect of carbon pricing," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 64(3), pages 555-574, July.
    2. Stern, David I. & Gerlagh, Reyer & Burke, Paul J., 2017. "Modeling the emissions–income relationship using long-run growth rates," Environment and Development Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 22(6), pages 699-724, December.
    3. Best, Rohan & Burke, Paul J., 2018. "Adoption of solar and wind energy: The roles of carbon pricing and aggregate policy support," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 404-417.
    4. Sanchez, Luis F. & Stern, David I., 2016. "Drivers of industrial and non-industrial greenhouse gas emissions," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 17-24.
    5. Cockburn, John & Henseler, Martin & Maisonnave, Hélène & Tiberti, Luca, 2018. "Vulnerability and policy responses in the face of natural resource discoveries and climate change: introduction," Environment and Development Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 23(5), pages 517-526, October.
    6. Dong Wang & Ben White & Amin Mugera & Bei Wang, 2022. "Energy Transition and Economic Development in China: A National and Sectorial Analysis from a New Structural Economics Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-19, December.
    7. Nancy McCarthy & Heath Henderson, 2014. "The Role of Renewable Energy Laws in Expanding Energy from Non-Traditional Renewables," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 86813, Inter-American Development Bank.
    8. Paul J. Burke & Md Shahiduzzaman & David I. Stern, 2015. "Carbon dioxide emissions in the short run: The rate and sources of economic growth matter," CAMA Working Papers 2015-12, Centre for Applied Macroeconomic Analysis, Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University.
    9. Haider Mahmood & Muhammad Shahid Hassan & Soumen Rej & Maham Furqan, 2023. "The Environmental Kuznets Curve and Renewable Energy Consumption: A Review," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 13(3), pages 279-291, May.
    10. McCarthy, Nancy & Henderson, Heath, 2014. "The Role of Renewable Energy Laws in Expanding Energy from Non-Traditional Renewables," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 6677, Inter-American Development Bank.
    11. Nishitateno, Shuhei & Burke, Paul J., 2014. "The motorcycle Kuznets curve," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 116-123.
    12. Paul J. Burke & Thang N. Do, 2021. "Greening Asia's Economic Development," Asian Economic Policy Review, Japan Center for Economic Research, vol. 16(1), pages 22-39, January.
    13. Panda Su & Yu Wang, 2022. "Does It Help Carbon Reduction in China? A Research Paper about the Mediating Role of Production Automation Based on the Carbon Kuznets Curve," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-18, November.

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