Decomposition Analysis of CO2 Emissions in Greece from 1996 to 2020

Authors

  • Eleni Tsepi School of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, AUTh Campus, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
  • Ioannis Sebos School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Zografou Campus, 15773 Athens, Greece https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4800-6893
  • Grigorios L. Kyriakopoulos School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Zografou Campus, 15780 Athens, Greece https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4875-8534

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13052/spee1048-5236.4332

Keywords:

Climate change, decomposition analysis, carbon dioxide emissions, LMDI technique, Greece

Abstract

To meet Greece’s commitments under the Kyoto Protocol (KP) and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), it’s crucial to dissect the primary influencers of its greenhouse gas emissions. This study utilized the logarithmic mean Divisia index method in its additive form to delve into the main drivers behind carbon dioxide emissions in Greece from 1996 to 2020. The analysis revealed that the primary catalyst for the rise in CO2 emissions was the growth in GDP. Conversely, advancements in energy efficiency, as indicated by a decrease in energy intensity, played a significant role in reducing CO2 emissions. While population growth contributed to an increase in emissions, a decline in emissions intensity showcased a reduction in emissions per unit of output or consumption. The period from 1996 to 2020 witnessed a 38% change in emissions, demonstrating the effectiveness of Greece’s environmental policies. These findings highlight the pressing need for a sustained focus on enhancing renewable energy sources (RES) penetration and ensuring comprehensive attention across all sectors to further reduce emissions.

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Author Biographies

Eleni Tsepi, School of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, AUTh Campus, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece

Eleni Tsepi is a Chemical Engineer, currently pursuing an MSc in Materials Science and Engineering at TU Delft. With a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, she conducted her thesis on phase equilibrium modelling, which was presented at the 13th Panhellenic Scientific Conference in Chemical Engineering. Her professional journey includes contributing as a researcher to a project at the National Technical University of Athens focusing on national GHG inventory improvement utilizing software such as MATLAB for data analysis. Eleni’s practical experience includes an internship at the Research Institute of Health and Medical Sciences in the UAE that allowed her to apply analytical techniques to cancer samples, yielding valuable insights for early diagnosis. Proficient in various software, including MATLAB and SOLIDWORKS, she’s poised to contribute to the scientific community in Materials Science and Engineering.

Ioannis Sebos, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Zografou Campus, 15773 Athens, Greece

Ioannis Sebos has more than 25 years work experience, and in particular 16 years of experience in Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) related to GHG inventories. He is the scientific responsible and coordinator of the Greenhouse Gas Inventory System of Greece, and member of the working group for the monitoring of the implementation of the National Climate and Energy Plan (NECP). He is a Lead Reviewer of UNFCCC and EEA/EC. Since 2022, he is a member of the Editorial Board at the Emission Factor Database of IPCC. He works as a Teaching and Research Associate at the National Technical University of Athens. He is also a adjunct professor at the Master Program “Applied Policies and Techniques for the Protection of Environment” of the University of West Attica and at Master Program “Environmental Design” of the Hellenic Open University. Furthermore, he has participated in many technical projects dealing with: climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies and policies, renewable energy, industrial risk assessment etc. He is the author of more than 55 articles in peer-reviewed journals and/or presentations in scientific conferences.

Grigorios L. Kyriakopoulos, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Zografou Campus, 15780 Athens, Greece

Grigorios L. Kyriakopoulos is a Teaching and Research Associate at the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Greece. He holds a wide educational background, including 2 PhDs, in Low Carbon Economy (DUTH, Greece) and in Chemical Engineering (NTUA, Greece), Chemical Engineering (MEng, MSc in Technical-Economic Systems, PhD, PostDoc), Environment (BSc, 2MSc in Environmental Design of: a) large infrastructure works and b) cities/buildings, PhD), Business Administration (BA and MA), Hellenic Civilization (BA and MA), Energy (MSc), Education (PGCE), Psychology (CertHE, HND, PGCert), Human Resource Management (CertHE). Dr. Kyriakopoulos (co)authored more than 100 papers in 50 journals, 20 invited book chapters, and 30 papers at conferences, all received more than 3300 citations. He is the reviewer of more than 5200 manuscripts in 400 journals. His research interests are engineering, environmental systems and remediation, energy, and renewable energy sources. He is recorded in the top 2% of scientists in the world released by Stanford University (years 2020 and 2021).

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Published

2024-06-14

How to Cite

Tsepi, E., Sebos, I., & Kyriakopoulos, G. L. (2024). Decomposition Analysis of CO2 Emissions in Greece from 1996 to 2020. Strategic Planning for Energy and the Environment, 43(03), 517–544. https://doi.org/10.13052/spee1048-5236.4332

Issue

2024: Vol 43 Iss 3

Section

Articles