## 4 Discussion and Conclusions
In all these countries, investments are being implemented to encourage the acquisition and use of RES plants; a feed-in tariff and a premium tariff are being introduced to promote on-site electricity generation, but due to suspicions of corruption, the feed-in tariff has been abolished as of January 2020 [37]. Other measures could be to increase competition in the electricity market, as in other EU countries, where the market share of the largest generator in the electricity market is below 50% [42]. The results of scenario 2 (average growth rate) show an increase in GHG emissions for all MSs except Greece. This result can be explained by the decrease in the GDP variable in Greece and the resulting limited human activities, which have a consistent weight in the algorithm (25%), although the other variables (population and RES) increase. The government has set a target to phase out lignite-fired power generation by 2028, which is stimulating investments in renewable energy and promoting sustainable development [44]. In addition, a large-scale campaign to install photovoltaic systems was launched, triggered by feed-in tariff schemes but followed by downward pricing policies. However, people are willing to proceed with the installation if they are reassured with a financial payback and simple paperwork. People are also less reluctant than in the past to build renewable energy parks across the country that may impact the natural environment [46]. The results of scenario 3 (high growth rate) show a strong increase in GHG emissions for all EU MSs, especially for Estonia and Malta, mainly due to a strong GDP growth (>13%) that is not supported by sound policies to reduce environmental impacts. Estonia has opted for feed-in tariff models only, which means that private and commercial companies can sell green electricity to their domestic energy markets, but this does not encourage the adoption of RES [47]. As for Malta, the deep waters around the coast hardly allow for conventional offshore wind energy, while onshore wind energy and ground-based photovoltaic parks are not compatible with the high population density and limited availability of open land [49]. One solution could be the implementation of offshore photovoltaics and wave energy converters (WECs), but policy makers are required to introduce more consistent support mechanisms such as grant programs to spread the practice [50]. Thus, the findings of this paper are clearly negative and show that current policies are not sufficient to achieve the EU target of a 55% reduction by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050. At the current pace, GHG emissions are projected to decrease only in the low-growth-rate scenario. If the decarbonisation targets set out in the European Agenda are to be met, robust and immediate action is needed. Almost three-quarters of global GHG emissions come from energy production [7], thus the application of additional legislations concerning energy efficiency and renewable energy production is essential. The share of RES could be increased through measures to accelerate economic growth in less developed countries and the promotion of national initiatives in the form of feed-in tariffs, but also subsidy schemes, quota systems, specific tax regulatory mechanisms and tax exemptions along the lines of more developed countries such as Sweden. In parallel, the long-term perspective of economic growth in industrialised countries depends to a large extent on increased energy consumption from renewable sources [13]. Other support mechanisms that governments can put in place include tradable green certificate schemes and carbon pricing mechanisms. Following the lead of policy makers in the most developed countries (e.g., Sweden), which have implemented a carbon pricing mechanism since the 1990s, the EU introduced the Emissions Trading System (ETS) in 2005.