GDP, Energy and Greenhouse Gases - Some Cross-sectional Evidence

Abstract

The decreasing ecological capital in the world is a major worry like the possibility of a global spread of a deadly decease like e.g. Ebola. The decline in global ecological capital has to do with the increasing emissions of CO2 equivalent stuff in the atmosphere, although other factors are also important, like wildlife losses and deforestation as well as desertification. Can economic development be combined with environmental sustainability?  On the micro level, many projects show that this is indeed possible. But on the macro level, global emissions of greenhouse gases follow the advancement of country affluence closely. The link is the constantly increasing need for more energy, provided by fossil fuels.