Drivers of CO2 Emissions in the Slovak Economy: The Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index Approach of Decomposition

The paper examines driving forces of CO2 emissions of four sectors of the Slovak economy. Our analysis was based on extended Kaya Identity framework using Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) decomposition technique. We applied chaining analysis for period 1997 2012 and examined contributions of six effects. We found the primary mover of CO2 emissions to be energy intensity effect (52%) followed by activity effect 25%) and economy structure effect (16%). The combined contribution of energy mix effect, emission factors effect and population effect reached only approximately 7%, which implies that as much as 93 % CO2 emissions were determined to large extent by exogenous impetuses. Our evidence therefore suggests that the policies aimed at structural changes of economies are the most effective tool to address issue of CO2 emissions.