Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Economic Growth in Poland: Decomposition and Decoupling Analysis

Purpose: This paper addresses the conditions behind energy-related carbon dioxide
emissions in Poland following its accession to the European Union. The study analyzed some
energy, fossil fuel, economic, and environmental indicators, such as energy use, CO2
emissions, driving factors and decoupling elasticity status.
Design/Methodology/Approach: This article is a contribution to the study of factors
influencing climate change related to energy use. The analysis was based on descriptive
statistics and decomposition methods. The Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI), one of
the most commonly used forms of index decomposition and index decoupling analysis, was
used to identify the determinants of carbon dioxide emissions.
Findings: As the results showed, between 2004 and 2020, energy consumption in Poland
grew at an average annual rate of 0.8% while fossil-fuel carbon emissions declined at 0.7%
per year. Energy intensity was found to be the key force behind the reduction in CO2
emissions, whereas rapid economic growth was the main driver of CO2 emissions. While
other factors, i.e. carbon intensity, energy mix and population, also contributed to reducing
the emissions, they had a much smaller if not marginal effect. In turn, the decoupling
elasticity analysis showed that Poland mostly witnessed strong decoupling states, which
means a strong decoupling of CO2 emissions from economic growth. Furthermore, it follows
from the decoupling analysis that strong decoupling statuses prevailed throughout the study
period, suggesting that the changes in the factors considered significantly contributed to
reducing CO2 emissions. However, the decoupling elasticity indices reveal the presence of
an adverse trend. The above means that Poland witnesses a decline both in the strength of
decoupling emissions from economic growth, and in the efficiency of policies and measures
designed to reduce CO2 emissions.
Practical implications: These considerations could help develop an active energy policy
focused on climate neutrality.
Originality/value: This document broadens and updates knowledge on the determinants of
CO2 emissions in Poland. Also, these findings can provide grounds for accelerating energy
transformation processes in Poland.