Change in energy-related CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions in Portuguese tourism: a decomposition analysis from 2000 to 2008

Tourism is an activity with great potential in Portugal. At a time of economic crisis, tourism is seen as an opportunity to boost the economy and provide sustainable economic growth. This strategic path based on Tourism has to be accomplished in order to make better use of the economic advantages, but at the same time respecting the environment and environmental goals to which Portugal is committed. So it becomes important to analyze what effects contribute more to emissions in this sector, as well as which tourism subsectors are more responsible for the increase of emissions. The objective of this work is to identify the effects in which CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions in tourism can be broken down and analyzed, as well as their evolution and which of them has more importance in determining emissions. For that, in this study a decomposition technique based on Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index was used in the 2000-2008 period, for five tourism subsectors in Portugal. In general, Tourism activity is the most important effect. Energy mix, Carbon intensity and Energy intensity effects also proved important.