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Increased carbon footprint of materials production driven by rise in investments

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  • Hertwich, Edgar

    (Norwegian University of Science and Technology)

Abstract

The production of materials is an important source of greenhouse gas emissions. In order to reduce emissions, policies aim to enhance material efficiency and the circular economy but our understanding of the dynamics of material-related greenhouse gas emissions is limited. Here, I quantify the greenhouse gas emissions from material production and the carbon footprint of materials in industries that are the first users of materials, and in final consumption, using in a multiregional input-output model of the global economy and the hypothetical extraction method. From 1995 to 2015, greenhouse gas emissions from just material production increased by 120%, with 11 billion tons CO2-equivalent emitted in 2015. As a proportion of global emissions, material production rose from 15 to 23%. China accounted for 75% of the growth. In terms of the first use of materials, two fifths of the carbon footprint of materials is attributed to construction, and two fifths to the manufacturing of machinery, vehicles, and other durable products. Overall, the replacement of existing or formation of new capital stocks now accounts for 60% of material-related emissions. Policies that address the rapidly growing capital stocks in emerging economies therefore offer the best prospect for emission reductions from material efficiency.

Suggested Citation

  • Hertwich, Edgar, 2021. "Increased carbon footprint of materials production driven by rise in investments," SocArXiv n9ecw_v1, Center for Open Science.
    • Handle: RePEc:osf:socarx:n9ecw_v1
    DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/n9ecw_v1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Stefan Giljum & Martin Bruckner & Aldo Martinez, 2015. "Material Footprint Assessment in a Global Input-Output Framework," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 19(5), pages 792-804, October.
    2. Zhan-Ming Chen & Stephanie Ohshita & Manfred Lenzen & Thomas Wiedmann & Magnus Jiborn & Bin Chen & Leo Lester & Dabo Guan & Jing Meng & Shiyun Xu & Guoqian Chen & Xinye Zheng & JinJun Xue & Ahmed Alsa, 2018. "Consumption-based greenhouse gas emissions accounting with capital stock change highlights dynamics of fast-developing countries," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-9, December.
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    1. Hertwich, Edgar, 2024. "Unseen machines: illuminating equipment’s role in climate change mitigation and resource efficiency," OSF Preprints t35aw_v1, Center for Open Science.

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