From Energy Use to Emissions: What Environmental Benefits Can Be Achieved Near-term?

As suggested in the Kaya Identity, changes in the emission intensity of energy use is a decisive factor determining historic and future emissions. Emission intensities can change autonomously (e.g., in the course of technological progress) or as a result of dedicated policy interventions. In the past, large and rapid changes in emission intensities have been observed for many air pollutants around the world, while intensities of long-lived greenhouse gases exhibited only slow changes.