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Modeling, Forecasting, and Nowcasting U.S. CO2 Emissions Using Many Macroeconomic Predictors

Author

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  • Mikkel Bennedsen

    (Aarhus University and CREATES)

  • Eric Hillebrand

    (Aarhus University and CREATES)

  • Siem Jan Koopman

    (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and CREATES)

Abstract

We propose a structural augmented dynamic factor model for U.S. CO2 emissions. Variable selection techniques applied to a large set of annual macroeconomic time series indicate that CO2 emissions are best explained by industrial production indices covering manufacturing and residential utilities sectors. We employ a dynamic factor structure to explain, forecast, and nowcast the industrial production indices and thus, by way of the structural equation, emissions. We show that our model has good in-sample properties and out-of-sample performance in comparison with univariate and multivariate competitor models. Based on data through September 2019, our model nowcasts a reduction of about 2.6% in U.S. CO2 emissions in 2019 compared to 2018 as the result of a reduction in industrial production in residential utilities.

Suggested Citation

  • Mikkel Bennedsen & Eric Hillebrand & Siem Jan Koopman, 2019. "Modeling, Forecasting, and Nowcasting U.S. CO2 Emissions Using Many Macroeconomic Predictors," CREATES Research Papers 2019-21, Department of Economics and Business Economics, Aarhus University.
    • Handle: RePEc:aah:create:2019-21
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    Cited by:

    1. Ar'anzazu de Juan & Pilar Poncela & Vladimir Rodr'iguez-Caballero & Esther Ruiz, 2022. "Economic activity and climate change," Papers 2206.03187, arXiv.org, revised Jun 2022.
    2. Iania, Leonardo & Algieri, Bernardina & Leccadito, Arturo, 2022. "Forecasting total energy’s CO2 emissions," LIDAM Discussion Papers LFIN 2022003, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain Finance (LFIN).
    3. Morten Ørregaard Nielsen & Antoine L. Noël, 2020. "To infinity and beyond: Efficient computation of ARCH(1) models," CREATES Research Papers 2020-13, Department of Economics and Business Economics, Aarhus University.
    4. Krishnamurthy Baskar Keerthana & Shih-Wei Wu & Mu-En Wu & Thangavelu Kokulnathan, 2023. "The United States Energy Consumption and Carbon Dioxide Emissions: A Comprehensive Forecast Using a Regression Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-20, May.
    5. Ding, Song & Hu, Jiaqi & Lin, Qianqian, 2023. "Accurate forecasts and comparative analysis of Chinese CO2 emissions using a superior time-delay grey model," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    6. Anine E. Bolko & Kim Christensen & Mikko S. Pakkanen & Bezirgen Veliyev, 2020. "Roughness in spot variance? A GMM approach for estimation of fractional log-normal stochastic volatility models using realized measures," CREATES Research Papers 2020-12, Department of Economics and Business Economics, Aarhus University.
    7. Duras, Toni & Javed, Farrukh & Månsson, Kristofer & Sjölander, Pär & Söderberg, Magnus, 2023. "Using machine learning to select variables in data envelopment analysis: Simulations and application using electricity distribution data," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    8. Mikkel Bennedsen & Eric Hillebrand & Siem Jan Koopman, 2020. "A statistical model of the global carbon budget," CREATES Research Papers 2020-18, Department of Economics and Business Economics, Aarhus University.
    9. Zeng, Qingshun & Shi, Changfeng & Zhu, Wenjun & Zhi, Jiaqi & Na, Xiaohong, 2023. "Sequential data-driven carbon peaking path simulation research of the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration based on semantic mining and heuristic algorithm optimization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 285(C).
    10. Karen Miranda & Pilar Poncela & Esther Ruiz, 2022. "Dynamic factor models: Does the specification matter?," SERIEs: Journal of the Spanish Economic Association, Springer;Spanish Economic Association, vol. 13(1), pages 397-428, May.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    CO2 emissions; macroeconomic variables; dynamic factor model; variable selection; forecasting; nowcasting;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C01 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - General - - - Econometrics
    • C13 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Estimation: General
    • C32 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Time-Series Models; Dynamic Quantile Regressions; Dynamic Treatment Effect Models; Diffusion Processes; State Space Models
    • C51 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Model Construction and Estimation
    • C52 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Model Evaluation, Validation, and Selection
    • C53 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Forecasting and Prediction Models; Simulation Methods
    • C55 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Large Data Sets: Modeling and Analysis
    • C82 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Methodology for Collecting, Estimating, and Organizing Macroeconomic Data; Data Access
    • Q43 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Energy and the Macroeconomy
    • Q47 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Energy Forecasting

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