Decomposition analysis of air pollutants during the transition and post-transition periods in the Czech Republic

In index decomposition analysis, it is common to decompose changes in energy-related CO2 emissions to give the effects of five contributing factors. However, it is extremely challenging to derive the equivalent air pollutant emission coefficient by fuel type for air pollutants. As a result, air pollutant emissions have typically been decomposed into three factors, i.e. the scale, structure, and emission intensity factors. Using a unique facilitylevel dataset for the Czech Republic, we decompose air pollutant emissions into five factors, i.e. by decomposing the emission intensity effect further into the fuel-intensity, fuel-mix, and emission-fuel intensity factors. We use the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index method to decompose annual changes in the emissions of four types of air quality pollutants stemming from large stationary emission sources. Our analysis covers the period 1990-2019, during which the Czech economy transited from a centrally-planned to a market economy and implemented strict environmental regulation to become a full member of the European Union. The emissions decreased substantially in the 1990s, remained then at stable levels, and declined again thereafter. Effects contributed to the changes are quantified. We also study how the results differ if one relies on the standard 3factor decomposition and on a 4-factor analysis.

Automated summary

In this study, air pollutant emissions in the Czech Republic are decomposed into five factors using a unique dataset, with a focus on the period from 1990 to 2019. Emissions decreased substantially in the 1990s, remained stable for a period, and then declined again. The effects contributing to these changes are quantified and the differences between a standard 3-factor decomposition and a 4-factor analysis are examined.