IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i21p14605-d965842.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Trade and Embodied CO 2 Emissions: Analysis from a Global Input–Output Perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Xinsheng Zhou

    (Faculty of International Trade, Shanxi University of Finance and Economics, Taiyuan 030006, China)

  • Qinyang Guo

    (Faculty of International Trade, Shanxi University of Finance and Economics, Taiyuan 030006, China)

  • Yuanyuan Wang

    (School of Public Administration, Shanxi University of Finance and Economics, Taiyuan 030006, China)

  • Guofeng Wang

    (Faculty of International Trade, Shanxi University of Finance and Economics, Taiyuan 030006, China)

Abstract

Global trade drives the world’s economic development, while a large amount of embodied carbon is transferred among different countries and regions. Based on a multi-regional input–output model, the trade embodied carbon transfers of bilateral trade between 185 countries/regions around the world were calculated. On the basis, regional trade embodied carbon transfer patterns and major national trade patterns in six continents, eight major economic cooperation organizations, and six representative countries/regions were further analyzed. The results showed that Europe was the continent with the largest embodied carbon inflows from trade and Africa was the continent with the largest embodied carbon outflows from trade. China was the country which had the largest embodied carbon outflows from trade, while the United States, France, Japan, and Germany were countries which had embodied carbon inflows from trade. OECD, EU, and NAFTA were the economic cooperation organizations with embodied carbon inflows from trade, while BRICS, SCO, RCEP, OPEC, and ASEAN were economic cooperation organizations with embodied carbon outflows from trade. Developed countries such as the United States, France, and the United Kingdom protected their environment by exporting high-value products and importing low-value and carbon-intensive products. Developing countries such as China and Russia earned foreign exchange by exporting carbon-intensive and commodity products at a huge environmental cost. In contrast, Germany, China, and Russia played different roles in the global industrial chain, while Germany exchanged more trade surpluses at lower environmental costs. Therefore, for different countries and regions, their own industries should be actively upgraded to adjust the import and export structure, the cooperation and coordination in all regions of the world should be strengthened, and the transfers of embodied carbon needs to be reduced to make the trade model sustainable.

Suggested Citation

  • Xinsheng Zhou & Qinyang Guo & Yuanyuan Wang & Guofeng Wang, 2022. "Trade and Embodied CO 2 Emissions: Analysis from a Global Input–Output Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-18, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:21:p:14605-:d:965842
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/21/14605/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/21/14605/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yang, Yafei & Wang, Hui & Löschel, Andreas & Zhou, Peng, 2022. "Patterns and determinants of carbon emission flows along the Belt and Road from 2005 to 2030," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    2. Jing Bai & Jiansheng Qu & Tek Narayan Maraseni & Jinjia Wu & Li Xu & Yujie Fan, 2019. "Spatial and Temporal Variations of Embodied Carbon Emissions in China’s Infrastructure," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-17, January.
    3. Fang, Delin & Chen, Bin, 2019. "Information-based ecological network analysis for carbon emissions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(C), pages 45-53.
    4. Rocco, Matteo V. & Golinucci, Nicolò & Ronco, Stefano M. & Colombo, Emanuela, 2020. "Fighting carbon leakage through consumption-based carbon emissions policies: Empirical analysis based on the World Trade Model with Bilateral Trades," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 274(C).
    5. Sato, Misato, 2014. "Product level embodied carbon flows in bilateral trade," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 106-117.
    6. Óscar Rodil-Marzábal & Hugo Campos-Romero, 2021. "The Intra-EU Value Chain: An Approach to Its Economic Dimension and Environmental Impact," Economies, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-17, April.
    7. Misato Sato, 2014. "Embodied Carbon In Trade: A Survey Of The Empirical Literature," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(5), pages 831-861, December.
    8. Wu Xie & Shuai Hu & Fangyi Li & Xin Cao & Zhipeng Tang, 2020. "Carbon and Water Footprints of Tibet: Spatial Pattern and Trend Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-15, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Zhang, Hui & Fahlevi, Mochammad & Aljuaid, Mohammed & Beşer, Nazife Özge & Cabas, Meral & lominchar, Jose, 2024. "A machine learning and quantile analysis of FINTECH and resource efficiency in achieving sustainable development in OECD countries," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    2. Godwin Imo Ibe & Hillary Chijindu Ezeaku & Itiri Idam Okpara & Eze Festus Eze & Ebele Igwemeka & Obinna Ubani, 2024. "Asymmetric effect of environmental tax on CO2 emissions embodied in domestic final demand in South Africa: A NARDL approach," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 36(1), pages 55-69, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Nicoletta Batini & Ian W.H. Parry & Mr. Philippe Wingender, 2020. "Climate Mitigation Policy in Denmark: A Prototype for Other Countries," IMF Working Papers 2020/235, International Monetary Fund.
    2. Yu, Shasha & Yuan, Xuanyu & Yao, Xinyan & Lei, Ming, 2022. "Carbon leakage and low-carbon performance: Heterogeneity of responsibility perspectives," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    3. Banie Naser Outchiri & Jie He, 2020. "Technical gap, trade partners and product mix evolution: how trading with China affects global CO2 emissions," Cahiers de recherche 20-07, Departement d'économique de l'École de gestion à l'Université de Sherbrooke.
    4. Zhu, Bangzhu & Su, Bin & Li, Yingzhu & Ng, Tsan Sheng, 2020. "Embodied energy and intensity in China’s (normal and processing) exports and their driving forces, 2005-2015," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    5. Sehgal, Shaina & Babu, Suresh, 2021. "Economic Transformation of the Nicobar Islands Post-tsunami: A Material Import–Export Analysis," Ecology, Economy and Society - the INSEE Journal, Indian Society of Ecological Economics (INSEE), vol. 4(02), July.
    6. Golinucci, Nicolò & Tonini, Francesco & Rocco, Matteo Vincenzo & Colombo, Emanuela, 2023. "Towards BitCO2, an individual consumption-based carbon emission reduction mechanism," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    7. Marin, Giovanni & Vona, Francesco, 2023. "Finance and the reallocation of scientific, engineering and mathematical talent," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(5).
    8. Wang, P.P. & Huang, G.H. & Li, Y.P. & Liu, Y.Y. & Li, Y.F., 2024. "An ecological input-output CGE model for unveiling CO2 emission metabolism under China's dual carbon goals," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 365(C).
    9. Barrows, Geoffrey & Ollivier, Hélène, 2021. "Foreign demand, developing country exports, and CO2 emissions: Firm-level evidence from India," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    10. Zhong, Zhangqi & Jiang, Lei & Zhou, Peng, 2018. "Transnational transfer of carbon emissions embodied in trade: Characteristics and determinants from a spatial perspective," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 858-875.
    11. Antal, Miklós & van den Bergh, Jeroen C.J.M., 2014. "Re-spending rebound: A macro-level assessment for OECD countries and emerging economies," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 585-590.
    12. Sato, Misato, 2014. "Product level embodied carbon flows in bilateral trade," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 106-117.
    13. Honma, Satoshi & Yoshida, Yushi, 2020. "An empirical investigation of the balance of embodied emission in trade: Industry structure and emission abatement," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 277-294.
    14. Fang, Delin & Duan, Cuncun & Chen, Bin, 2020. "Average propagation length analysis for carbon emissions in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    15. Isabel-Maria Bodas Freitas & Jojo Jacob & Lili Wang & Zibiao Li, 2023. "Energy use and exporting: an analysis of Chinese firms," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 33(1), pages 179-207, January.
    16. Virág, Doris & Wiedenhofer, Dominik & Baumgart, André & Matej, Sarah & Krausmann, Fridolin & Min, Jihoon & Rao, Narasimha D. & Haberl, Helmut, 2022. "How much infrastructure is required to support decent mobility for all? An exploratory assessment," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    17. Ya Liu & Yuhuan Zhao & Hao Li & Song Wang & Yongfeng Zhang & Ye Cao, 2018. "Economic Benefits and Environmental Costs of China's Exports: A Comparison with the USA Based on Network Analysis," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 26(4), pages 106-132, July.
    18. repec:spo:wpmain:info:hdl:2441/6m5kss847r91no96hiublu6anu is not listed on IDEAS
    19. Michael Jakob & Jan Christoph Steckel & Ottmar Edenhofer, 2014. "Consumption- Versus Production-Based Emission Policies," Annual Review of Resource Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 6(1), pages 297-318, October.
    20. Mingming Zhu & Jigan Wang & Jie Zhang & Zhencheng Xing, 2022. "Urban Low-Carbon Consumption Performance Assessment: A Case Study of Yangtze River Delta Cities, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-14, August.
    21. Lenzen, Manfred & Bhaduri, Anik & Moran, Daniel & Kanemoto, Keiichiro & Bekchanov, Maksud & Geschke, Arne & Foran, Barney, 2012. "The role of scarcity in global virtual water flows," Discussion Papers 133478, University of Bonn, Center for Development Research (ZEF).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:21:p:14605-:d:965842. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.