The equity of carbon emissions in international trade from the perspective of value added

Abstract

International trade drives the transboundary transfer of carbon emissions. However, due to the differences in the economic development level and industrial structure of countries, the whole understanding of the inequality exchange between carbon emissions and the value added remains to be illuminated. Here, to uncover the global pattern of this inequality exchange, we construct a multi-regional input–output model (MRIO) and inequality exchange index (IEI) from 1991 to 2016, to carry out macro path research with the goal of achieving global carbon neutrality. The results show that: (1) The carbon emissions per unit of value added through trade have declined in most countries, and the decline rate of developing countries was faster than that of developed ones. (2) In general, the developed countries were in an advantageous position in the value added and carbon emission exchange, while the developing countries were in a disadvantageous position. (3) Six sectors – agriculture, forestry, and animal husbandry; electrical and machinery; electricity, gas, and water; petroleum, chemical, and N-metallic mineral products; transport; and financial intermediation and business activities – accounted for more than half of the carbon emissions of global trade, but with the advancement of energy conservation and emission-reduction measures, carbon emissions have decreased to varying degrees. (4) From a global perspective, promoting cooperation on carbon reduction technologies from developed countries to developing ones might be a key and effective way to achieve global carbon reduction. The study aims to provide new insights into the formulation of global carbon neutrality and carbon emission responsibility-sharing policies.