Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14279/14198
Title: Optimal timing of greenhouse gas emissions abatement in Europe
Authors: Sotiriou, Chryso 
Zachariadis, Theodoros 
Major Field of Science: Natural Sciences
Field Category: Earth and Related Environmental Sciences
Keywords: Climate policy;Decarbonization;Emissions trading system;Energy policy
Issue Date: 2-May-2019
Source: Energies, 2019, vol. 12, no.10
Volume: 12
Issue: 10
Journal: Energies 
Abstract: Decarbonization by the mid-21st century requires strong commitment to greenhouse emission abatement measures, but national emission reduction pledges are made for the medium term. Achieving medium term targets without taking into account the long term can lead to a lock-in effect, binding countries in pathways that cannot lead to strong decarbonization. This paper sheds light in this issue by combining a theoretical approach with real-world engineering and cost data. We develop a constrained optimization model to examine least-cost greenhouse gas emission abatement pathways, taking into account (a) emission reduction objectives for two years: 2030 and 2050; and (b) the potential speed of implementation of each measure, which expresses technical and behavioural inertia in the deployment of a measure. We focus on European countries and economic sectors that are not subject to the EU Emissions Trading System. We derive relationships between 2030 abatement targets of varying ambition and the possibility for a country to achieve a strong 2050 target. We find that more ambitious EU-wide targets have to be set by 2030 so that Europe delivers deep decarbonization by 2050. Moreover, if air pollution costs are taken into account, strong decarbonization by 2050 has lower social costs than less ambitious policies.
ISSN: 19961073
DOI: 10.3390/en12101872
Rights: © by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license
Type: Article
Affiliation : Cyprus University of Technology 
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed
Appears in Collections:Άρθρα/Articles

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