The effect of forestry on energy efficiency in EU countries: A non‐oriented dynamic slack‐based data envelopment analysis

Abstract

Abstract According to the Paris Agreement signed on 12 December 2015, forests have great impact on controlling CO 2 emissions. This study uses the nonoriented dynamic slack‐based data envelopment analysis model to evaluate the impact of a forestry area on the annual and overall energy efficiency in 28 EU countries during 2009‐2016. We found that annual and overall energy efficiency improved slightly and the energy efficiency in each country also changed when the forestry area was used as the output variable. Although the total energy consumption has declined slowly, CO 2 emissions have not declined effectively. Thus, it will be challenging for the EU to meet its target of cutting CO 2 emissions by 30% by 2030. All countries should take additional measures, such as energetically increasing forestry areas, optimally distributing the labor force among industries, and gradually replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy to improve their energy efficiency.