CO2 emissions from the burning of fossil fuels are conventionally attributed to the country where the emissions are produced (i.e., where the fuels are burned). However, these production-based accounts represent a single point in the value chain of fossil fuels, which may have been extracted elsewhere and may be used to provide goods or services to consumers elsewhere. We present a consistent set of carbon inventories that spans the full supply chain of global CO2 emissions, finding that 10.2 billion tons CO2 or 37% of global emissions are from fossil fuels traded internationally and an additional 6.4 billion tons CO2 or 23% of global emissions are embodied in traded goods. Our results reveal vulnerabilities and benefits related to current patterns of energy use that are relevant to climate and energy policy.
Links:
[1] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/feature-article/supply-chain-co2-emissions
[2] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/author/steven-j-davis
[3] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/author/glen-p-peters
[4] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/author/ken-caldeira
[5] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/journal/proceedings-national-academy-sciences
[6] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/carbon-dioxide
[7] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/fossil-fuels
[8] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/carbon-intensity
[9] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/emissions-trading