Energy Consumption Trends and Decoupling Effects between Carbon Dioxide and Gross Domestic Product in South Africa

Abstract

This study evaluates the occurrence of decoupling of CO 2 emissions from Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in South Africa (SA) for the period of 1990 to 2012 by using the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and Tapio methods, and identifies the primary CO 2 emissions driving forces by the Kaya identity. The results showed a strong decoupling during the period of 2010-2012, which is considered as the best development situation. In 1994-2010 SA had a weak decoupling; while during the period 1990-1994, the development in SA presented an expansive negative decoupling state. The comparison of the OECD and Tapio's methods showed well-correlated results but differed in their applications; however, the OECD method appeared as the simpler one. The results of Kaya identity demonstrated that the increase in population, GDP per capita and deteriorating energy efficiency were the main primary driving forces for the increase of CO 2 emissions. It is suggested that SA can expand the share of renewable energy and promote green energy technology in addition to better strategies of the demand side management (DSM) to raise the efficiency of energy consumption as well as CO 2 emission reductions. The methods used in this research can be applied to other countries with similar situations to evaluate the trends of energy consumption and CO 2 emissions and an aid to decision-making tool for better sustainable development.

Multiplier Effects of Energy Consumption and CO2 Emissions by Input-Output Analysis in South Africa

“…Additionally, the economic effect was the main factor leading to increased CO 2 emissions from Thailand's thermal power generation, whereas electricity intensity played a major role in decreasing CO 2 emissions. Liou et al (2015) Lin et al (2015) evaluated the decoupling of CO 2 emissions from GDP in South Africa using OECD and Tapio during the period 1990-2012, and they investigated the primary CO 2 emission drivers with the Kaya identity. Results showed that a strong decoupling occurred during 2010-2012, and the increase in population, GDP per capita, and adverse energy efficiency were the primary driving forces for increased CO 2 emission.…”

Emissions Study and Estimation of Carbon Dioxide Production from Jatropha Curcas Oil Biodiesel

“…For example, Lin et al (2015) used the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and Tapio methods to analyze the relationship between CO 2 emissions and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of South Africa for the period of 1990 to 2012. Dimoula et al (2016) used the conversion factor of 3.06 kg CO 2 per diesel liter in a freight road transport system.…”

Evidence of Absolute Decoupling from Real World Policy Mixes in Europe

“…Existing evaluations examine single instruments such as environmental fiscal reform [9] and emissions trading schemes, or policy mixes comprised of several instruments [10,11]. Policy analyses often focus on progress towards specific objectives such as reducing energy consumption [12], municipal waste [13], carbon emissions [14,15] and fresh water use [16,17].…”

“…Policy analyses often focus on progress towards specific objectives such as reducing energy consumption [12], municipal waste [13], carbon emissions [14,15] and fresh water use [16,17]. The scale of decoupling analyses varies, some focusing on a sector [18,19], while others look at city [20], regional/provincial [21] and national [11,[13][14][15]22] levels, including cross comparisons [12,23,24].…”