| Abstrakt: |
This study investigates the factors influencing C O 2 emissions in Romania from 1990 to 2023 using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model. Before the ARDL model, we identified a set of six policies that were ranked using Fuzzy Electre, Topsis, DEMATEL, and Vikor. The multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods have highlighted the importance of a circular policy on C O 2 emission reduction, which should be a central focus for policymakers. The results of the ARDL model indicate that, in the long term, renewable energy production reduces C O 2 emissions, showing a negative relationship. Conversely, an increase in patent applications and urbanization contributes to higher C O 2 emissions, reflecting a positive impact. In total, five key factors were analyzed: C O 2 emissions per capita, patent applications, gross domestic product, share of energy production from renewables, and urbanization. Notably, GDP does not significantly explain C O 2 emissions in the long run, suggesting that economic growth alone is not a direct driver of C O 2 emission levels in Romania. This decoupling might result from improvements in energy efficiency, shifts towards less carbon-intensive industries, and the increased adoption of renewable energy sources. Romania has implemented effective environmental regulations and policies that mitigate the impact of economic growth on C O 2 emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
