Energy and CO2 intensity changes in the EU-27: Decomposition into explanatory effects

One of this work's major contributions is the derivation of policy implications from the assessment of the main driving forces behind energy and CO2 intensity, with a greater geographical and temporal focus than prior studies. The results show that, overall, the EU-27 economies reduced total energy use by moving into less energy-intensive structures and improving sectoral energy efficiency, in spite of the adverse results of the activity effect. Regarding CO2 emissions, the EU-27 decreased these by moving to less carbon-intensive structures and by improving the sectoral energy efficiency, the energy-mix and the emission-factor.