Net Zero Policy Performance Measurement of European Countries
RANA DUYGU ALKURT, MEHTAP DURSUN, NAZLI GOKER
Industrial Engineering Department,
Decision Analysis Application and Research Center,
Galatasaray University,
Çırağan Caddesi, No.36, Ortaköy, Beşiktaş, Istanbul,
TURKEY
Abstract: - Net zero goal lays the foundation for a sustainable future. It is in question to keep global warming
under control since at least carbon dioxide emissions are balanced with the net zero target. In order to avoid
severe climate impacts, global greenhouse gas emissions should decrease by half by 2030 and reach zero by
2050. Thus, this study aims to measure the performance of European Countries based on carbon emissions. To
measure performance, Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method is used. To use this method, decision-
making units (DMUs), inputs, and outputs are determined. Input is identified as Primary Energy Consumption.
Outputs are selected as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Carbon dioxide (CO2) emission, and Nitrous Oxide
(N2O) emission.
Key-Words: - Climate change, CO2 emission, Data envelopment analysis, Net zero policy, Performance
management.
Received: November 11, 2022. Revised: May 28, 2023. Accepted: June 29, 2023. Published: July 27, 2023.
1 Introduction
Global warming is one of the most important
problems of our age. As a result of industrialization,
rapid urbanization, and global lifestyles, we are
currently facing the climate crisis. To avoid the
negative effects of climate change, it is necessary to
reduce environmental pollution and reduce the
amount of greenhouse gases that enter the
atmosphere. For this reason, it is possible to control
greenhouse gas emissions by taking individual or
institutional measures.
To reach the net zero target, international
negotiations were started in the late 1980s, [1].
Carbon dioxide, methane, etc. To reduce greenhouse
gases, the Kyoto Protocol was signed between 40
countries in 1997. As a result of the inadequacy of
the Kyoto protocol, the Paris Conference was held
in 2015. After the conference, the Paris Agreement
was signed but entered into force in 2016, [2].
The net-zero goal lays the foundation for a
sustainable future. It is in question to keep global
warming under control since at least carbon dioxide
emissions are balanced with the net zero target. In
order to avoid severe climate impacts, global
greenhouse gas emissions should decrease by half
by 2030 and reach zero by 2050. Governments and
businesses need to set a net zero emission target for
responding to the climate crisis.
Recently, some studies make carbon footprint
analyses in the literature, [3], [4], [5], [6]. After the
Paris Agreement was signed in 2015, studies on the
net zero emission approach were carried out, [7],
[8], [9], [10].
This study aims to measure the performance of
European Countries based on carbon emissions in
2019. To measure performance, the Data
Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method is used. To
use this method, decision-making units (DMUs),
inputs, and outputs are determined. Input is
identified as Primary Energy Consumption. Outputs
are selected as Gross Domestic Product (GDP),
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emission, and Nitrous Oxide
(N2O) emission. The rest of the study is organized
as follows. Section 2 explains the DEA method,
Section 3 illustrates the case study. Conclusions are
provided in the last Section.
2 Data Envelopment Analysis
DEA is a nonparametric technique to measure the
relative efficiency of performance measure within a
set of homogeneous decision units (DMUs) with
inputs, desirable outputs, and undesirable outputs,
[11]. The first DEA model, which is named CCR
(Charles, Cooper, and Rhodes), was developed by
[12]. There are two CCR DEA methods according
to the change in objective functions. These are
International Journal of Environmental Engineering and Development
DOI: 10.37394/232033.2023.1.12
Rana Duygu Alkurt, Mehtap Dursun, Nazli Goker
E-ISSN: 2945-1159
107
Volume 1, 2023
input-oriented and output-oriented which have
desirable inputs and desirable outputs. The input-
oriented CCR-DEA model evaluates the relative
efficiency of DMUs. This evaluation is done by
maximizing the ratio of the total weighted output to
the total weighted input, This model constraint is
output-to-input ratio of each DMU should be less
than or equal to unity.
The input-oriented CCR-DEA model can be
represented as follow;
subject to
(1)
On the other hand, Outputs or inputs can be
undesirable like CO2 Emission or GHG Emission.
The economic justification for using undesirable
output variables as inputs in DEA models. Inputs
and undesirable outputs cost a DMU money,
therefore DMUs often try to minimize both sorts of
variables. To deal with undesirable outputs, new
mathematical models have been developed by
changing the constraints. For example, [13],
developed a model name is Pure Environmental
Performance Index.
Max Ɵ
Subject to
∑𝑧
𝐾
𝑘=1 kxnk ≤ xn0 ∀n, (2)
∑𝑧
𝐾
𝑘=1 kymk ≥ ym0 ∀m,
∑𝑧
𝐾
𝑘=1 kujk = Ɵuj0 ∀j,
∑𝑧
𝐾
𝑘=1 k≤ 1
Zk ≥ 0 , k = 1, .. , K.
In above linear model consists of an input vector
xk whose nth component xnk is the amount of input n
consumed by DMUk , output vector yk whose mth
component ymk is the amount of desirable output m
yield by DMUk, an output vector ujk whose jth
component ujk is the amount of undesirable output j
yield by DMUk .
3 Case Study
The case study is performed in European Countries.
Data and normalized data are given in Table 1
(Appendix) and Table 2 (Appendix), respectively.
To measure the performances, the Pure
Environmental Performance Index mathematical
model is coded in General Algebraic Modeling
System v.42.5.0 (GAMS). In this model, it was run
by putting normalized values. Models' results are
shown in Table 3 (Appendix).
4 Conclusion
According to performance results, Albania,
Lithonia, Malta, and Montenegro are classified as
efficient countries. However, this assessment is
made only among countries. European countries
should continue to take precautions for a sustainable
world. Future researchers may focus on performing
this analysis for 2050. Moreover, other DEA
methods can be used and the results can be
compared. Necessary measures can be taken
according to these measurements.
Acknowledgment:
This work is supported by Galatasaray University
Research Fund Project FBA-2023-1167.
References:
[1] Vlassopoulos, C., Competing definition of
climate change and the post-Kyoto
negotiations. International Journal of Climate
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[2] International Legal Materials,
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/inter
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[3] Kuo, T. C., Chen, G. H., Wang, M. L., Ho, M.
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[4] Mayers, K., Koomey, J., Hall, R., Bauer, M.,
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[5] Belkhir, L., Elmeligi, A., ICT global
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International Journal of Environmental Engineering and Development
DOI: 10.37394/232033.2023.1.12
Rana Duygu Alkurt, Mehtap Dursun, Nazli Goker
E-ISSN: 2945-1159
108
Volume 1, 2023
[6] Millot, A., Krook-Riekkola, A., Mazi, N.,
Guiding the future energy transition to net-
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[11] Martín-Gambo, M., Iribarren, D., Coupled life
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[12] Charnes, A., Cooper, W. W., and Rhodes, E.
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International Journal of Environmental Engineering and Development
DOI: 10.37394/232033.2023.1.12
Rana Duygu Alkurt, Mehtap Dursun, Nazli Goker
E-ISSN: 2945-1159
109
Volume 1, 2023
Appendix
Table 1. Input and output data of countries
Country
Primary Energy
Consumption
(twh)
CO2 emission
(tonnes)
N2O emission
(tonnes of CO2-
equivalents)
Albania
32.457
4947485
1100000
Austria
415.964
67936184
3850000
Belgium
740.942
99432616
4580000
Bulgaria
207.051
42255764
4160000
Cyprus
32.379
6875935
370000
Czechia
471.76
101012960
5320000
Denmark
188.006
30955444
5170000
Estonia
60.212
12380190
1400000
Finland
312.568
42381840
5010000
France
2686.761
316386780
38279999
Germany
3625.339
707149950
34119999
Greece
331.338
65756230
4270000
Hungary
272.143
49234644
5700000
İceland
60.856
3546263
370000
İreland
184.218
37325664
9250000
İtaly
1790.808
339233200
15350000
Lithonia
69
13923306
3650000
Luxemburg
46.973
9751728
380000
Malta
40.376
1649193
50000
Montenegro
14
2476864
150000
Nether
975.717
153032800
8120000
North Macedonia
31
7994848
540000
Norway
493.904
42784000
3400000
Poland
1176.408
318487680
21680000
Portugal
286.524
47618828
2990000
Roma
382.183
77030616
8940000
Russia
8304.408
1692363400
65120003
Serbia
199.87
44344496
3960000
Slovakia
182
33776188
2020000
Slovenia
79
14048142
810000
Spain
1554.292
251825150
20070000
Sweden
622.722
40982492
5640000
Switzerland
326.727
36733064
2420000
Türkiye
1807.463
401719740
34750000
United kingdom
2146.401
364753280
28370001
International Journal of Environmental Engineering and Development
DOI: 10.37394/232033.2023.1.12
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E-ISSN: 2945-1159
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Volume 1, 2023
Table 2. Normalized input and output data of countries
Country
Primary Energy
Consumption
(twh)
CO2 emission
(tonnes)
N2O emission
(tonnes of CO2-
equivalents)
Albania
0.0039
0.0029
0.0169
Austria
0.0501
0.0401
0.0591
Belgium
0.0892
0.0588
0.0703
Bulgaria
0.0249
0.0250
0.0639
Cyprus
0.0039
0.0041
0.0057
Czechia
0.0568
0.0597
0.0817
Denmark
0.0226
0.0183
0.0794
Estonia
0.0073
0.0073
0.0215
Finland
0.0376
0.0250
0.0769
France
0.3235
0.1869
0.5878
Germany
0.4366
0.4178
0.5240
Greece
0.0399
0.0389
0.0656
Hungary
0.0328
0.0291
0.0875
İceland
0.0073
0.0021
0.0057
İreland
0.0222
0.0221
0.1420
İtaly
0.2156
0.2004
0.2357
Lithonia
0.0084
0.0082
0.0561
Luxemburg
0.0057
0.0058
0.0058
Malta
0.0049
0.0010
0.0008
Montenegro
0.0017
0.0015
0.0023
Nether
0.1175
0.0904
0.1247
North Macedonia
0.0037
0.0047
0.0083
Norway
0.0595
0.0253
0.0522
Poland
0.1417
0.1882
0.3329
Portugal
0.0345
0.0281
0.0459
Roma
0.0460
0.0455
0.1373
Russia
1.0000
1.0000
1.0000
Serbia
0.0241
0.0262
0.0608
Slovakia
0.0219
0.0200
0.0310
Slovenia
0.0095
0.0083
0.0124
Spain
0.1872
0.1488
0.3082
Sweden
0.0750
0.0242
0.0866
Switzerland
0.0393
0.0217
0.0372
Türkiye
0.2177
0.2374
0.5336
United kingdom
0.2585
0.2155
0.4357
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DOI: 10.37394/232033.2023.1.12
Rana Duygu Alkurt, Mehtap Dursun, Nazli Goker
E-ISSN: 2945-1159
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Table 3. Performance measurements
Country
Results
Albania
1.000
Austria
0.034
Belgium
0.021
Bulgaria
0.028
Cyprus
0.327
Czechia
0.017
Denmark
0.148
Estonia
0.163
Finland
0.065
France
0.008
Germany
0.003
Greece
0.020
Hungary
0.037
İceland
0.845
İreland
0.559
İtaly
0.005
Lithonia
1.000
Luxemburg
0.464
Malta
1.000
Montenegro
1.000
Nether
0.015
North
Macedonia
0.129
Norway
0.070
Poland
0.005
Portugal
0.032
Roma
0.022
Russia
0.001
Serbia
0.020
Slovakia
0.040
Slovenia
0.116
Spain
0.008
Sweden
0.083
Switzerland
0.084
Türkiye
0.003
United
Kingdom
0.006
Contribution of Individual Authors to the
Creation of a Scientific Article (Ghostwriting
Policy)
Rana Duygu Alkurt and Mehtap Dursun collected
the data and carried out the optimization.
Mehtap Dursun and Nazli Goker wrote the article.
Sources of Funding for Research Presented in a
Scientific Article or Scientific Article Itself
This work is supported by Galatasaray University
Research Fund Project FBA-2023-1167.
Conflict of Interest
The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.
Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0
(Attribution 4.0 International, CC BY 4.0)
This article is published under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en
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International Journal of Environmental Engineering and Development
DOI: 10.37394/232033.2023.1.12
Rana Duygu Alkurt, Mehtap Dursun, Nazli Goker
E-ISSN: 2945-1159
112
Volume 1, 2023