Carbon Dioxide Emissions and Implications for Environmental Policy: Evidence in Southeast Asia

The article attempts to investigate impacts of determinants on per capita carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in six developing countries in Southeast Asia between 1985 and 2014 using a panel dataset. We found that electric power per capita, energy use, and gross domestic product have positive influences on per capita CO2 emissions in Southeast Asia. However, population and renewable energy consumption negatively affect per capita CO2 emissions in this region. Our results also addressed that per capita CO2 emissions of Indonesia and Viet Nam are higher than that of other countries in the region. Lastly, policies are recommended to reduce CO2 emissions and protect the environment in Southeast Asia, including improvement of energy efficiency of countries in the region, implementation of the Project in Clean Energy Investments, reduction of fuel and CO2 emissions applied to light duty vehicles and high duty vehicles, exploitation of advantages in exporting greenhouse gas emissions, and cooperation among countries in the region in order to reduce emissions.