Title: A structural decomposition analysis of air pollution from fossil fuel combustion in India

Authors: Kakali Mukhopadhyay

Addresses: Centre for Development and Environment Policy, Indian Institute of Management, Joka, D.H. Road, PB No-16757, Calcutta 700104, India

Abstract: During the last decade, there has been worldwide concern with global climate change, which has been induced by greenhouse gases (GHGs) due to the use of fossil fuels. The CO₂ emissions from fossil fuel combustion have been identified as the single most significant source of GHG emissions into the atmosphere. Realising the need to control and regulate emissions of pollutants, the objective of the present study estimates the trend of CO₂, SO₂ and NO_x between the periods 1991-92 and 1996-97. An input-output structural decomposition analysis approach is used to determine their sources of change. It also provides a set of alternative scenarios for the year 2001-2 and 2006-7. The sources of changes in the amount of CO₂, SO₂ and NO_x emissions are categorised into four factors: the ecoefficiency, the structure of production, the structure of demand, and the volume of demand. Results indicate that the electricity sector contributes more towards direct, as well as indirect, emission coefficients. The petroleum product sector also contributes more in this respect. The dominant role is played by the structure of demand and the volume of demand.

Keywords: emission; fossil fuels; structural decomposition analysis.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2002.002341

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2002 Vol.18 No.5, pp.486-497

Published online: 16 Jul 2003 *

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