| Abstract [eng] |
This Master`s thesis deals with evaluation of economic growth impact on greenhouse gas emissions in countries of different income level groups. Conceptual part of the thesis analyses the theoretical aspects of economic growth in the context of sustainable developement and the Environmental Kuznets Curve. On the basis of the earlier conducted reasearches, other determinants than the economic growth affecting the greenhouse gas emissions are identified. Dynamic analysis of the determinants affecting greenhouse gas emissions that was performed in the analytical part of the Master`s thesis showed that the fastest economic growth of CO2 emissions over the analyzed period was fixed in the countries of the upper middle income group. The fastest growth of dematerialization was fixed in the countries of low income group. Transmaterialization over the analyzed period had a tendency to decrease in all groups of countries except for the countries of higher income OECD group. This means that in order to reduce environmental pollution, countries give a priority over energy efficiency instead of using more renewable resources. The fastest processess of industrialization and urbanization over the analized period were in the countries of low income group. In addition, the analysis of the international trade processes, showed that higher income countries tend to export more goods whereas lower income countries focus more on import. This is partly in conflict with \"carbon leakage\" hypothesis stating that higher income countries become net importers and, therefore, do not produce pollution-intensive goods in the local market but shif pollution to other countries instead. Hypothesis I of this Master`s thesis stating that greenhouse gas emission increases when country develops and decreases when country's level of development reaches the limit known as the turning point was rejected. Hypothesis II claiming that additional factors such as dematerialisation, transmaterialization, and international trade included in the model has a significant impact on CO2 emissions in countries of different income level groups over the analyzed period was partially confirmed. These results confirmed the predicted impact directions of economic growth, dematerialization and transmaterialization on CO2 emissions. However, it was also determined that international trade leads to decrease of carbon emission in more exporting but not importing countries in contrast to \"carbon leakage\" hypothesis. Hypothesis III was also confirmed partially. The results confirmed that economic growth through the dematerialisation reduce CO2 emissions but did not confirm that economic growth reduces CO2 emissions through transmaterialization and international trade reduces CO2 emissions through economic growth. |
