scholarly journals The Dynamics of Cyclical Convergence and Decoupling in the Environmental Performance of Spanish Regions

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (20) ◽  
pp. 8569
Author(s):  
Alfredo Cabezas-Ares ◽  
María Jesús Delgado-Rodríguez ◽  
Sonia de Lucas-Santos
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Performance ◽  
Recursive Estimation ◽  
Dynamic Factor ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Low Carbon Economy ◽  
Estimated Parameters ◽  
Spanish Regions ◽  
Short Run ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Carbon Economy

Spain is aiming at moving towards a low-carbon economy. The success of this task will depend on the capacities of Spanish regions to follow the national energy and climate strategy and decarbonize their economies. In this paper, we analyze the CO2 fluctuations and links with economic activity, throughout the period 1990 to 2018, using dynamic factor and recursive estimation models. We confirm the robustness of our results by testing the stability of the estimated parameters. Our findings show that the dynamics of the pattern of synchronization and decoupling of the regions are quite similar. Nonetheless, there are significant differences regarding the comparison of levels and trajectories across regions, emphasizing the need to intensify efforts to achieve national objectives. This study highlights interest in utilizing the proposed approach for the analysis of the short-run dynamics of environmental performance.

scholarly journals How Fiscal Policy in Bulgaria may Affect the Transition to a Low Carbon Economy?

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 525-535
Keyword(s):  
Fiscal Policy ◽  
Policy Instruments ◽  
Macroeconomic Policy ◽  
Currency Board ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Low Carbon Economy ◽  
Policy Goals ◽  
Short Run ◽  
Macroeconomic Environment ◽  
Carbon Economy

The adaptation of traditional macroeconomic policy goals to new ecological realities assigns a specific role to macroeconomic policy. We model the short-run transmission mechanism of fiscal policy under Currency Board Arrangements in Bulgaria in order to assess the fiscal policy potential to boost sustainable economic development and compensate for the economic growth losses due to decarbonisation of the economy. We find that fiscal policy instruments in Bulgaria have no statistically significant effect on GDP components considered separately but they do have a complex effect on macroeconomic environment in the country. This indicates that specific fiscal policy effects to support the transition to a low-carbon economy in Bulgaria cannot be expected and the structural policies should be followed.

scholarly journals Low-Carbon Economy in Schools: Environmental Footprint and Associated Externalities of Five Schools in Southwestern Europe

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (19) ◽  
pp. 6238
Author(s):  
Ana Rosa Gamarra ◽  
Carmen Lago ◽  
Israel Herrera-Orozco ◽  
Yolanda Lechón ◽  
Susana Marta Almeida ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
Environmental Performance ◽  
Electricity Consumption ◽  
Individual Performance ◽  
Performance Comparison ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Low Carbon Economy ◽  
School Year ◽  
Carbon Economy

This study provides an in-depth assessment of the environmental performance of five public schools in the transition towards a low-carbon economy and a more sustainable model of society. Life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology is used to conduct the study. The school system includes several activities and processes clustered in three subsystems: management of the school building, training and learning activities (T&L) and mobility and transport (M&T). A detailed primary data inventory of energy and resources consumption was collected in five schools located in Spain and Portugal. Findings on climate change (CC), water depletion (WD), particular matter (PM), acidification (Ac), and human health (HH), as well as associated external cost (EC), are reported per student in one school year as reference unit, allowing the schools’ individual performance comparison and identify the potential improvements. Considering the sample of schools, findings reveal that peculiarities of the schools, such as location, specialization, and level of education, are crucial for the environmental performance. Buildings are a relevant contributor to CC as well as heating and electricity needs, although their relevance is dependent on multiple factors. The M&T subsystem also has relevant weight on the metrics evaluated. Educational activities have a lower impact in absolute terms but, in some schools, it becomes the main contributor to HH due to paper and electricity consumption and manufacturing of equipment. External costs results are in the range of 11 to 38 EUR/student·year mainly caused by heating, electricity and wastes from the building subsystem, and the M&T subsystem.

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