Fossil Fuel Subsidies and Carbon Intensity of Well-Being in Emerging and Developing Economies
Abstract
The carbon intensity of well-being, which combines environmental well-being and human well-being outcomes into a single variable, represents the ratio of CO2 emissions to life expectancy. This study seeks to determine the impact of factors affecting the level of pollution per unit of human well-being. To this end, the study examines the impact of fossil fuel subsidies, access to energy, health expenditures, and per capita income on carbon intensity of well-being in 33 emerging and developing economies. The findings reveal that fossil fuel subsidies and per capita income increase the pollution level per unit of human well-being, i.e., they increase carbon intensity of well-being. Furthermore, they show that access to energy and health expenditures reduce the pollution level per unit of human well-being, i.e., they decrease carbon intensity of well-being. Based on these findings, policy makers can help achieve the desired sustainability goals by gradually reducing fossil fuel subsidies, shifting to clean energy sources, and increasing access to energy.
Keywords
Carbon Intensity of Well-Being, Fossil Fuel Subsidies, Access to Energy, Health Expenditure
Thanks
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