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The contribution of Chinese exports to climate change by

Christopher L. Weber (a), Glen P. Peters (b), Dabo Guan (c), and Klaus Hubacek (d)

(a) Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

(b) Industrial Ecology Programme, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway

(c) Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1AG, UK

(d) Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
 

Abstract

Within 5 years, China's CO2 emissions have nearly doubled, and China may already be the world's largest emitter of CO2. Evidence suggests that exports could be a main cause for the rise in Chinese CO2 emissions; however, no systematic study has analyzed this issue, especially over time. We find that in 2005, around one-third of Chinese emissions (1700 Mt CO2) were due to production of exports, and this proportion has risen from 12% (230 Mt) in 1987 and only 21% (760 Mt) as recently as 2002. It is likely that consumption in the developed world is driving this trend. A majority of these emissions have largely escaped the scrutiny of arguments over “carbon leakage” due to the current, narrow definition of leakage. Climate policies which would make the developed world responsible for China's export emissions have both benefits and costs, and must be carefully designed to achieve political consensus and equity. Whoever is responsible for these emissions, China's rapidly expanding infrastructure and inefficient coal-powered electricity system need urgent attention.

Keywords: China; Exports; Climate change

Article Outline

1. Introduction
2. Methods and data
2.1. Environmental input–output analysis (EIOA)
2.2. Normalization
2.3. Approximation of regional responsibility
2.4. Data sources
2.4.1. Input–output tables
2.4.2. Energy and emissions data
3. Results
4. Uncertainties
5. Discussion: who is responsible for China's emissions?
References

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written by bob johns , July 31, 2008

When you move manufacturing to a locale where the GHG emissions are about 7.75X per unit of GDP greater than a developed country like the United States the results are obvious. Both Canada and the US have determined the greatest source of mercury pollution here originates in Chinese coal fired power plants. Over 20% of particulate matter falling in areas on the US West Coast are courtesy of the Asian generated brown cloud. Again, an unacceptable evnironmental compromise regardless of who consumes goods. it is where they are manufactured that determines source. Asking the world to forego consumption as countries develop is a losing proposition. Deal with emissions.....

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