Work

Enormous inter-country inequality of embodied carbon emissions and its driving forces in South America

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: South America is a critical developing region under significant pressure to reduce emissions and achieve carbon neutrality. This study fills a vital gap by comprehensively analysing the continent's carbon emissions from both production and consumption perspectives. Utilizing the most updated global Multi-Regional Input-Output (MRIO) models, we examine the emissions embodied in the internal and external trade of nine major South American countries, tracing the emission flows from their origins to final consumers and analyzing the socio-economic drivers behind these patterns. Our research uncovers that both production- and consumption-based emissions hold a decreasing trend, as well as import-related emissions, while export-related emissions are increasing. Trade-related emissions are embodied in heavy industry and transportation, and the share of developing countries continuously climbs. Brazil is the sole net-exporter of emissions, and the significant net-importer transfers to Colombia. Energy intensity offsets the increase in carbon emissions caused by per capita consumption, especially in Brazil. Meanwhile, Colombia experiences an increase in emissions due to its energy structure, whereas a general trend towards decreasing emissions is noted elsewhere. The impact of the industrial chain is mainly domestic and extends forward. Interestingly, the consumption structure decreases emissions in Argentina and Bolivia, and it has the opposite effect in other countries. This comprehensive insight into the drivers of carbon emissions provides a nuanced understanding crucial for policymakers to develop targeted and effective emissions reduction strategies for South America.

Source: Global Environmental Change

DOI: 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2024.102944