The GHGs Emissions Determinants in Selected OECD and OPEC Countries and the Policy Implications for Iran: (Panel Data Approach)

Abstract

The greenhouse gas emissions as a result of human activities is considered the main factor in global warming. This subject is of greater importance in OPEC countries because of the dependency of OPEC economies on fossil fuels and their economic vulnerability in relation with climate changes conventions and the Kyoto Protocol. In this study, besides analyzing the extent of compliance with EKC in the OPEC and OECD countries, the most important factors influencing CO2 emission will be examined and also the policy implications of KEC for Iran will be studied. The findings indicate that firstly, the inverse U shaped Environmental Kuznets Curve is not confirmed for all the studied countries, including Iran. Secondly, manufacturing value added to GDP (as an industrial development index), trade to GDP (as the openness index), and energy consumption to GDP (the energy intensity index) are found to be the main macroeconomic determinants.

Keywords

• global warming
• climate change
• ekc
• greenhouse gas emissions
• opec countries