Low Carbon Energy Transitions in the Nordic Countries: Evidence from the Environmental Kuznets Curve

Click here to view record
Main author: Urban, Frauke
Other authors: Nordensvard, Johan
Format: Journal Article           
Online access: Click here to view record


id eprints-26569
recordtype eprints
institution SOAS, University of London
collection SOAS Research Online
language English
language_search English
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.
format Journal Article
author Urban, Frauke
author_facet Urban, Frauke
Nordensvard, Johan
authorStr Urban, Frauke
author_letter Urban, Frauke
author2 Nordensvard, Johan
author2Str Nordensvard, Johan
title Low Carbon Energy Transitions in the Nordic Countries: Evidence from the Environmental Kuznets Curve
publisher MDPI
publishDate 2018
url https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/26569/

Similar items