Anthropogenic Carbon Dioxide Emmision in Asia: Effect of Population, Affluence and Energy Effeciency

This study was conducted to determine the effects of population, affluence and energy efficiency (the ratio of real GDP to commercial energy use) on the level of Anthropogenic Carbon Dioxide Emissions in Asia from 1980 to 2004. It also sought to provide empirical evidence for the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis in Asia. Results of the study showed that the level of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions increased by 265.20 percent from 1980 to 2004. CO2 emissions rose with increases in population and GDP per capita, and decreased with increasing energy efficiency. Results showed that 97 percent of the variation in the level of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emission could be explained by changes in population, GDP per capita and energy efficiency. Results also confirmed the existence of EKC in Asia, A monotonically upward trend in emissions with increasing income level was observed.