Energy use and CO2 emissions in the UK universities: an extended Kaya identity analysis

Eskander, Shaikh M.S.U. ORCID: 0000-0002-3325-5486 and Nitschke, Jakob (2021) Energy use and CO2 emissions in the UK universities: an extended Kaya identity analysis. Journal of Cleaner Production, 309. ISSN 0959-6526

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Abstract

We investigate the progress of the UK universities in greening their energy sources in line with the UK's goal of becoming a net-zero economy by 2050. Using the HESA estate management data for 116 universities over 2012-13 to 2018–19, we employ a Log Mean Divisa Index decomposition method within an extended Kaya identity framework to decouple the changes in total carbon emissions from a range of variables, with a special focus on the impact of different energy sources on energy use and carbon efficiency measures. Overall, between 2012-13 and 2018–19, universities have reduced emissions by 29% although their energy consumption remained mostly stable, implying that these reductions mostly stemmed from reductions in emission coefficient effect (which measures carbon efficiency of energy generation) by 24% and energy intensity effect by 25%. Consistently, estimated correlation coefficients confirm that emission coefficient, intensity, and affluence effects are major contributors behind the annual change in total emissions, with estimated correlation coefficients being 0.42, 0.66, and −0.24, respectively. The share of renewable energy sources was reduced by 2.2%, which is a major reason, in addition to increased number of students, behind the sector's overall failure achieve the 2020 goal of reducing emissions by 43% from the 2005 level. Finally, our results also expose considerable regional variations in mitigating and worsening factors behind emissions that calls for stronger coordination and supervision by policymakers.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/journal-of-c...
Additional Information:	© 2021 Elsevier Ltd
Divisions:	Grantham Research Institute
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor T Technology > TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery H Social Sciences > HB Economic Theory
JEL classification:	Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q4 - Energy > Q41 - Demand and Supply Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q4 - Energy > Q42 - Alternative Energy Sources
Date Deposited:	03 Jun 2021 23:14
Last Modified:	16 Nov 2024 04:12
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/110764

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