Structural breaks in CO2 emissions: Are they caused by climate change protests or other factors?

In recent times, there has been increase in climate change protest across the globe. However, whether decrease in emissions is connected with climate change protest or not is yet to be documented in the literature. Consequently, the aim of this study is to fill this gap by examining ex-post detection of how climate change protests and its interconnectedness with CO2 emissions. Using the Bai and Perron (1998) structural break test, we estimate the number of breaks as well as the date of such structural breaks in CO2 emissions series for 41 countries. Our aim is to match the date of the climate change protests to those of the structural breaks. We observe that climate change protests are fairly consistent with the dates of breaks in Europe and Asia, but not in BRICS economies or US, Canada and other countries. Therefore, this method allows us to solve a gap in the energy industry related to the modelling and correct allocation of positive shocks in CO2 emissions to climate change protests. • The number and the date of structural breaks in global CO 2 emissions are presented. • Bai and Perron (1998) structural break test for 41 countries is used alongside the Lee-Strazicich Unit Root Tests for robustness checks. • We contribute to knowledge as regards ex-post detection of the role of climate change protests in global CO 2 emissions. • Date of climate change protests is compared to those of these structural breaks. • Climate change protests are fairly in agreement with break dates and differ across regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]