María del Pópulo Pablo-Romero

Tackling climate change is one of the most important issues facing the world nowadays. Understanding the impact of rising temperatures on vulnerable territories is crucial. The main objective of this study is to analyze the influence of temperature on the on production per person employed in the Spanish provinces and to assess whether the effect is uniform across temperature levels and territories. A panel data econometric analysis of the Spanish provinces is conducted. The analysis is conducted using an extended translog production function that incorporates cooling and heating degree days and their squares as measures of cold and hot temperatures, respectively. The Driscoll and Kraay standard errors estimator and the generalized method of moments are used to account for the cross-sectional dependence and to tackle potential endogeneity. Furthermore, a quantile model is employed to analyze whether temperature variables affect the Spanish provinces differently. The findings show that average temperatures above 22 °C are detrimental to production, while below 15 °C have a positive effect. Moreover, the adverse impact of high temperatures on production becomes more pronounced as temperatures rise. The findings also demonstrate significant variations in the impact of temperature across territory, with the influence of temperature on production varying according to the geographical location of the provinces, and the most productive provinces being most negatively affected by high temperatures. It is considered appropriate to prioritize efforts in areas with higher temperatures, where greater negative impacts are observed, without using economic prosperity as a guideline for not applying adaptation policies.

This paper reviews and analyzes the process of the implementation of the circular economy in the European Union (EU) and Spain, and its links to the low-carbon transition. The EU implementation of the circular economy went through several stages. Since the adoption of the first action plan in 1993, the links between the circular economy and carbon transition goals have become intertwined. Recently, the EU approved the framework of new monitoring measures and indicators for the circular economy. The adopted actions have involved the adaptation of European legislation at the national level. Spain has participated in this process since 2017, when the Circular Economy Pact was signed. The subsequent approval of the Spanish Strategy for a Circular Economy in 2020 was developed, considering a close relationship between decarbonization and the circular economy. Lately, the circular economy implementation has been strengthened with the strategic project for economic recovery and transformation, linked to the recovery of COVID-19, and the roadmap for the sustainable management of mineral raw materials, with both documents including actions directly related to transforming the energy system. Data show that Spain has made significant improvements in the circular economy transition. However, Spain’s vulnerability to externalities is greater than that of the EU as a whole.

The effect of income and extreme temperatures on the residential electricity consumption in Spain is analyzed. An electricity demand function is estimated by means of ordinary least squares-Driscoll and Kraay, feasible generalized least squares, and quantiles panel data techniques, for the total of the sample, and by coastal climatic zones. The results support the energy-environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis for Spain, the continental, and Mediterranean zones. An N form is found for the Atlantic zone. The results also reflect that increases in temperature above 22^∘C and decreases below 15^∘C increase electricity consumption, this increase being progressive as temperatures vary. Thus, extreme temperature generates electricity consumption growth. The Mediterranean zone is most sensitive to these temperature changes. The results also show that electricity consumption is more sensitive to cold than to heat. The results suggest an inefficient use of heating and cooling appliances in the areas with the highest electricity consumption.

Tourist activity has strategic importance in the global economy. Nevertheless, the tourism activities are linked to increased emissions, due to the sector’s energy intensity, especially in the transport and commercial sectors. The aim of this study is to analyze the relationship between final energy consumption in the whole economy, the transport, commercial and public services sectors, and the tourist activity in the 15 countries with the highest number of international tourist arrivals in the world, in 2000–2019 period. The Energy–Environment Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis extended with tourism has been tested. Obtained results show non-linear relationships between energy consumption and production levels. There is evidence in favor of the energy EKC hypothesis, and in favor of an inverted N-shaped relationship for transport and commercial and public services sectors. The results also show a positive, increasing relationship between energy consumption and tourist arrivals for the whole economy. However, there is some evidence of the tourism energy EKC hypothesis when considering the transport, commercial and public services sectors. Therefore, economies of scale are observed in these sectors. Accordingly, it is highly advisable to increase the economies of scale, coupled with a greater awareness on the use of renewable energy. Negative relationships are found between energy consumption and tourism receipts. Therefore, it is advisable to establish policies that encourage high quality tourism to control the economy’s energy consumption.

This article aims to empirically analyze the direct and the indirect effects of human capital on energy consumption in Algeria, as well as to test the possible presence of the energy-environmental Kuznets curve (E-EKC) hypothesis, over the period 1970–2017, using cointegrating polynomial regressions (CPR) with break points, and a simultaneous equations model. The obtained results indicate that human capital directly reduces energy demand, and indirectly increases it through income and physical capital stock channels. However, the direct effect is higher than that of the indirect effect. Additionally, CPR results confirm a monotonic increasing relationship between energy use and real GDP per capita; therefore, there is no evidence of the E-EKC hypothesis. This means that increasing economic growth leads to a rise in energy consumption and, in turn, to an intensification of CO₂ emissions. The results also indicate that physical capital stock per capita, urban population ratio, and real GDP per capita are positively linked to energy use per capita. In that context, it may be appropriate to adapt the energy system to the growing demand, promoting greater use of renewable energies, if emissions growth is to be contained. Investment in education and improving the quality of human capital is a good way for Algeria to reduce energy consumption and protect the environment, without negatively impacting economic growth.

This paper analyzes the effect of certain factors on electricity consumption in Spain at a sectoral level. An electricity consumption function has been estimated by using panel data, depending on gross value added (GVA), temperatures, capitalization, and human capital. This function is obtained for total productive electricity consumption and for the agricultural, construction, industrial, service, and public administration sectors, referring to the 17 Autonomous Communities of Spain for the 2000–2013 period. The obtained results show important sectoral differences in the effect that GVA has on electricity consumption, indicating a positive and increasing effect of temperatures above 22 °C in the total economy and in the tertiary sector, and a negative effect of temperatures below 18 °C in some sectors. These results may indicate that global warming may induce an electricity demand growth in Spain, especially related to cooling needs. The results also highlight the positive effects of capitalization in all sectors, and the negative effects of human capital, except for the public administration sector. In this context, it may be appropriate to carry out policies that mitigate this consumption growth, reinforcing energy efficiency measures, and human capital investments.

Since the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015, signatory countries have been adopting commitments to promote the use of renewable energy. Among the signatory countries, those of Latin America have stood out for the high percentage of renewables in their energy mix and their commitment to continue advancing towards energy decarbonization. This commitment implies the need to adequately recognize the starting point of renewable energy consumption in the region, and its relationship with the population and regional production. This study analyzes the evolution of renewable energy consumption in the Latin American region and its member countries, in relation to the Worldwide position, from 1993 to 2018. For this, the direct consumption of renewable energies and the energy used to generate electricity and heat, have been considered. These values are analyzed in Worldwide per capita and per unit production terms. The results show that the Latin American region has a higher percentage of renewables in its energy mix than Worldwide, with this percentage being even higher when considering only the consumption of renewable energies of indirect origin. Brazil stands out for the share of its renewable consumption. In terms of per capita renewable energy consumption, Latin America presents higher values than those achieved Worldwide, with a growing trend throughout the studied period. The renewable energy intensity is also higher in Latin America, with a decreasing trend, as experienced Worldwide.