A study on the impact of EU's eastward expansion on carbon emissions of Central and Eastern European member states-- taking imported waste resources as an example

Abstract

The main purpose of this paper is to take the carbon emissions from import and export wastes as an example to study the impact of Central and Eastern European countries on their carbon emissions after joining the European Union. First of all, this paper introduces the theories and hypotheses related to trade and environment, and then clarifies the influence mechanism of EU eastward expansion on waste carbon emissions of CEE member states, including the impact of EU eastward expansion on waste trade flows in CEE member states and the effects of trade on carbon emissions. Based on this, it is concluded that: (1) joining the EU increases the carbon emissions of imported wastes from the new Central and Eastern European member states; (2) the industrial structure has a positive impact on environmental carbon emissions; (3) the number of labor force significantly promotes environmental carbon emissions, that is, the higher the number of labor force, the more carbon emissions; (4) the level of economic development has an inhibitory effect on carbon emissions, but not significantly. Finally, the full text is summarized and policy recommendations are put forward.