Corporate sustainability reporting and emissions trading system
Focus on energy-intensive sectors
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14267/VEZTUD.2026.02.01Keywords:
sustainability report, emission trading, environmental risks, Kuznets curve, energy-intensive industriesAbstract
Energy-intensive industries are responsible for a significant share of global greenhouse gas emissions; therefore, they play a key role in achieving sustainability goals. These industries are key players in the economy, creating significant added value and contributing to the growth of gross domestic product. This research aims to examine trends in energy-intensive sectors in Europe, with a particular focus on the regulatory environment and the effects of emission trading systems (EU ETS). The authors analyse the relationship between greenhouse gas emissions, contribution to gross domestic product, and quota prices, as well as the validity of the Kuznets curve theory. The regression analysis did not support the classical Kuznets curve theory, as in the case of energy-intensive industries, decoupling can be observed between economic growth and emissions from the beginning of the examined period. This suggests that to achieve sustainability goals, efficiency improvements and technological innovation are crucial in energy-intensive industries.
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