Title: Energy and CO₂ emissions efficiency: evidence for the Tunisian transport sector

Authors: Rafaa Mraihi; Mehdi Abid

Addresses: Higher School of Digital Economy of Manouba, University of Manouba, 2010 Manouba, Tunisia; Laboratory of Fiesta and Higher School of Digital Economy of Tunisia, University of Manouba, 2010 Manouba, Tunisia ' Higher Institute of Business Administration of Gafsa, University of Gafsa, Avenue Houcine Ben Kaddour Sidi Ahmed Zarrouk – 2112 Gafsa, Tunisia; Laboratory of Management of Innovation and Sustainable Development, University of Sousse, Cité Erriadh – 4023 Sousse, Tunisia

Abstract: This study examines a trilateral relationship between transport combustion, fossils consumption and CO₂ emissions from the transport sector and economic growth in Tunisia from 1980 to 2007. First, we study the causality relationship between economic growth and transport combustion and fossils consumption. Empirical results of the study verify the absence of causality relationship between transport combustion, fossils consumption and economic growth in Tunisia but verify the existence of unidirectional causality running from transport combustion and fossils consumption to economic growth in the long-run. Secondly the investigation is made on the basis of the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis, using time series data and cointegration analysis. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is used as the environmental indicator and GDP as the economic one. The results do support the EKC hypothesis, which assumes an inverted U-shaped relationship between income and environmental degradation with income turning point at about $2,646 (constant 2,000 prices). This implies that policy makers in Tunisia should consider the reconstruction of infrastructure, the development of transport energy consumption and more investment in pollution abatement expenses as a priority. It could be a feasible policy tool for Tunisia to achieve its sustainable growth in the long-run.

Keywords: energy efficiency; environmental Kuznets curve; EKC; Tunisia; road transport; vector error correction models; vehicle emissions; CO2; carbon dioxide; carbon emissions; economic growth; transport emissions; fossil fuel; air pollution; air quality; income; environmental degradation.

DOI: 10.1504/WRSTSD.2014.065673

World Review of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development, 2014 Vol.11 No.2, pp.109 - 126

Received: 05 Oct 2013
Accepted: 14 Mar 2014
Published online: 25 Nov 2014 *

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