Low Carbon Energy Transitions in the Nordic Countries: Evidence from the Environmental Kuznets Curve
Low carbon energy transitions are important to mitigate climate change, reduce air pollution, and reduce fossil fuel resource depletion. The Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden) are seen as leaders in low carbon energy transitions. This paper provides a comparative data analy...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2018-08-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/9/2209 |
| _version_ | 1798041397366882304 |
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| author | Frauke Urban Johan Nordensvärd |
| author_facet | Frauke Urban Johan Nordensvärd |
| author_sort | Frauke Urban |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Low carbon energy transitions are important to mitigate climate change, reduce air pollution, and reduce fossil fuel resource depletion. The Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden) are seen as leaders in low carbon energy transitions. This paper provides a comparative data analysis of low carbon energy transitions in the Nordic countries from the 1960s to 2015, and assesses evidence of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC). The paper finds that the EKC has been observed in Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden in terms of total CO2 emissions, but not in Norway and Finland. For per capita CO2 emissions, there is evidence for the EKC in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden, but not for Norway. For energy use per capita, the EKC is only observed for Denmark, while improvements are needed for the other countries. Norway is an outlier, in comparison with the other Nordic countries, hence the country should implement more stringent climate change mitigation policies to reduce its emissions. Overall, the research suggests that the Nordic countries, particularly Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden, can provide valuable lessons for national, regional, and global low carbon energy transitions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T22:20:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6bfc9087a6ea49ad990addefc665b6d3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T22:20:58Z |
| publishDate | 2018-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-6bfc9087a6ea49ad990addefc665b6d32022-12-22T04:00:07ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732018-08-01119220910.3390/en11092209en11092209Low Carbon Energy Transitions in the Nordic Countries: Evidence from the Environmental Kuznets CurveFrauke Urban0Johan Nordensvärd1Centre for Development, Environment and Policy CeDEP, SOAS University of London, London WC1H0XG, UKDepartment of Political Science, Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, SwedenLow carbon energy transitions are important to mitigate climate change, reduce air pollution, and reduce fossil fuel resource depletion. The Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden) are seen as leaders in low carbon energy transitions. This paper provides a comparative data analysis of low carbon energy transitions in the Nordic countries from the 1960s to 2015, and assesses evidence of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC). The paper finds that the EKC has been observed in Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden in terms of total CO2 emissions, but not in Norway and Finland. For per capita CO2 emissions, there is evidence for the EKC in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden, but not for Norway. For energy use per capita, the EKC is only observed for Denmark, while improvements are needed for the other countries. Norway is an outlier, in comparison with the other Nordic countries, hence the country should implement more stringent climate change mitigation policies to reduce its emissions. Overall, the research suggests that the Nordic countries, particularly Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden, can provide valuable lessons for national, regional, and global low carbon energy transitions.http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/9/2209low carbon energyenergy transitionDenmarkFinlandIcelandNorwaySwedenhydrogeothermalwindEnvironmental Kuznets Curve |
| spellingShingle | Frauke Urban Johan Nordensvärd Low Carbon Energy Transitions in the Nordic Countries: Evidence from the Environmental Kuznets Curve Energies low carbon energy energy transition Denmark Finland Iceland Norway Sweden hydro geothermal wind Environmental Kuznets Curve |
| title | Low Carbon Energy Transitions in the Nordic Countries: Evidence from the Environmental Kuznets Curve |
| title_full | Low Carbon Energy Transitions in the Nordic Countries: Evidence from the Environmental Kuznets Curve |
| title_fullStr | Low Carbon Energy Transitions in the Nordic Countries: Evidence from the Environmental Kuznets Curve |
| title_full_unstemmed | Low Carbon Energy Transitions in the Nordic Countries: Evidence from the Environmental Kuznets Curve |
| title_short | Low Carbon Energy Transitions in the Nordic Countries: Evidence from the Environmental Kuznets Curve |
| title_sort | low carbon energy transitions in the nordic countries evidence from the environmental kuznets curve |
| topic | low carbon energy energy transition Denmark Finland Iceland Norway Sweden hydro geothermal wind Environmental Kuznets Curve |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/9/2209 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT fraukeurban lowcarbonenergytransitionsinthenordiccountriesevidencefromtheenvironmentalkuznetscurve AT johannordensvard lowcarbonenergytransitionsinthenordiccountriesevidencefromtheenvironmentalkuznetscurve |