[Reader-list] imports and emissions

[Nagraj Adve]

This abstract from this paper by Davis and Caldeira suggest how much
imports and exports skew 'national' data on emissions and how much
consumption (and of course class) is one key factor).
Naga


Consumption-based accounting of CO2 emissions

   1. Steven J. Davis1 and
   2. Ken Caldeira



Abstract

CO2 emissions from the burning of fossil fuels are the primary cause
of global warming. Much attention has been focused on the CO2 directly
emitted by each country, but relatively little attention has been paid
to the amount of emissions associated with the consumption of goods
and services in each country. Consumption-based accounting of CO2
emissions differs from traditional, production-based inventories
because of imports and exports of goods and services that, either
directly or indirectly, involve CO2 emissions. Here, using the latest
available data, we present a global consumption-based CO2 emissions
inventory and calculations of associated consumption-based energy and
carbon intensities. We find that, in 2004, 23% of global CO2
emissions, or 6.2 gigatonnes CO2, were traded internationally,
primarily as exports from China and other emerging markets to
consumers in developed countries. In some wealthy countries, including
Switzerland, Sweden, Austria, the United Kingdom, and France, >30% of
consumption-based emissions were imported, with net imports to many
Europeans of >4 tons CO2 per person in 2004. Net import of emissions
to the United States in the same year was somewhat less: 10.8% of
total consumption-based emissions and 2.4 tons CO2 per person. In
contrast, 22.5% of the emissions produced in China in 2004 were
exported, on net, to consumers elsewhere. Consumption-based accounting
of CO2 emissions demonstrates the potential for international carbon
leakage. Sharing responsibility for emissions among producers and
consumers could facilitate international agreement on global climate
policy that is now hindered by concerns over the regional and
historical inequity of emissions.