Ming Yung-Chen. Decoupling Relationship between GDP and CO2 Emission Growth Rates in East Asia based on TAPIO Decoupling model. Dynamic Systems and Applications 29 (2020) No. 11, 3217 – 3230

https://doi.org/10.46719/dsa202029117

ABSTRACT.
With the rapid economic development of East Asia, environmental protection is also facing many challenges. This paper studies the decoupling relationship between “economic growth” and “carbon dioxide emissions”, This paper examines the decoupling relationship between carbon dioxide emissions and economic growth in different stages of economic development. The empirical results show that most countries strive to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and jointly protect the environment while developing their economies. Only a few countries are facing economic recession with rising carbon dioxide emissions, which will further worsen the environment. Due to the difference of economic development level and development mode among countries, there is a decoupling phenomenon between carbon dioxide emission and economic growth. Moreover, carbon dioxide emission is not the inevitable result of economic growth. It must be realized through industrial structure adjustment, supporting the tertiary industry, using clean energy and developing low-carbon economy, the study suggests that the reasons for the continuous increase of carbon dioxide emissions should be discussed in order to reduce emissions. Efforts should be made to promote economic development as the first priority, while reducing carbon dioxide emissions and jointly protecting the environment. This study should have reference significance for the formulation of carbon emission reduction policies in East Asian countries.

Keywords: Economic growth, carbon dioxide emissions, environmental protection, TAPIO decoupling model, low carbon economy.