Convergence in road transport CO2 emissions in Europe

Abstract

In Europe the transport sector accounts for more than 27% of total CO 2 emissions and, within this sector, road transport is by far the largest polluter. This fact has placed road transport emissions abatement firmly on the agenda of global alliances. In this paper, we examine the convergence in per capita road transport CO 2 emissions in a sample of 22 European Union (EU) countries over the 1990-2014 period. We find evidence that EU countries converge to one another but depending on certain structural factors (conditional convergence), and that the convergence speed has increased over time. In light of this evidence, we estimate a conditional convergence dynamic panel data model to examine the structural factors affecting the convergence process and its influence on the convergence speed. Because, in our sample, road transport CO 2 emissions depend almost exclusively on (fossil) fuel consumption, we focus on the determinants channelled through the use of energy in the sector. By using alternative econometric approaches (pooled-OLS, fixed-effects and instrumental variables), our results show that the convergence process is conditioned by factors such as economic activity and fuel prices and that some of these factors have a significant effect on the convergence speed. These results may entail policy implications with regards to the geographical impact of the EU policies on climate change currently in place.

Empirical analysis of R&D spending, transport infrastructure development and CO2 emissions in China

“…2 Review of literature Marrero et al (2021) investigated the relationship between road transport and CO 2 emissions among 22 countries in Europe. Their finding reveals that road transport and related infrastructure released 27% of the total emissions in the countries.…”

Convergence of Income Inequality in OECD Countries Since 1870: A Multi-Method Approach with Structural Changes

“…To compute conditional convergence or beta convergence, we employed the method of Marrero et al ( 2021 ). This method requires a neoclassical growth regression specification for income inequality.…”

“…In such a scenario, each nation converges to its own steady-state. These countries cannot converge to a similar level unless they have identical structural factors (Marrero et al, 2021 ). Z is a vector that houses contributors to the convergence of income inequality, including economic and population growth rate.…”

The State-of-the-Art Progress on the Forms and Modes of Hydrogen and Ammonia Energy Utilization in Road Transportation

“…With the continuous growth of the global economy and an increasing world population, human demand for fossil energy is rising, which may damage the environment and human health with a high amount of greenhouse gas emissions and other related pollutants. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) data in 2013 [1], the transportation sector is the second-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the world. As an essential part of the transportation field, roads take significant responsibility for emission reduction targets, and there is an urgent need to find suitable and effective alternative energy sources.…”