Title: Voluntary agreements and CO₂ reduction: an empirical assessment of German industries

Authors: Anton Parlow; Dennis Hövelmann

Addresses: University of Kaiserslautern, Gottfried-Daimler-Str. 42, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany ' University of Kaiserslautern, Gottfried-Daimler-Str. 42, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany

Abstract: Using data on 57 German industries we find that industries participating in voluntary agreements reduce their CO₂ emissions up to 30% compared to industries not participating in voluntary agreements for the period 1995 to 2010. The success of these agreements can be explained by an initially credible threat of the regulatory agency to impose taxes and the positive publicity created by reducing CO₂ emissions.

Keywords: voluntary agreements; CO2; carbon dioxide; carbon emissions; emissions reduction; Germany.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGE.2016.081901

International Journal of Green Economics, 2016 Vol.10 No.3/4, pp.279 - 286

Accepted: 24 Nov 2016
Published online: 30 Jan 2017 *

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