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Carbon Footprints

Author

Listed:
  • Rahel Aichele
  • Gabriel Felbermayr

Abstract

Is a country’s contribution to global climate change measurable in changes in its CO2 emissions, as is implicitly assumed in the Kyoto agreement? Or, because of the importance of international goods trade, is a carbon footprint that captures all CO2 emissions that arise in the wake of a country’s absorption (i.e. consumption and investment) a better measurement? The authors have created a database with the footprints of 40 countries for the period 1995–2007. The descriptive analysis of these data shows that the CO2 emissions of a country and its footprint can differ, both in terms of levels and in their dynamics. To prevent the shifting of emissions abroad (“carbon leakage”), future climate agreements should be directed at the carbon footprint rather than the domestic emissions of countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Rahel Aichele & Gabriel Felbermayr, 2011. "Carbon Footprints," ifo Schnelldienst, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 64(21), pages 11-16, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ifosdt:v:64:y:2011:i:21:p:11-16
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Aichele, Rahel & Felbermayr, Gabriel, 2012. "Kyoto and the carbon footprint of nations," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 63(3), pages 336-354.
    2. Rahel Aichele & Gabriel Felbermayr, 2015. "Kyoto and Carbon Leakage: An Empirical Analysis of the Carbon Content of Bilateral Trade," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 97(1), pages 104-115, March.
    3. Trefler, Daniel & Zhu, Susan Chun, 2010. "The structure of factor content predictions," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 82(2), pages 195-207, November.
    4. Nadim Ahmad & Andrew Wyckoff, 2003. "Carbon Dioxide Emissions Embodied in International Trade of Goods," OECD Science, Technology and Industry Working Papers 2003/15, OECD Publishing.
    5. Munksgaard, Jesper & Pedersen, Klaus Alsted, 2001. "CO2 accounts for open economies: producer or consumer responsibility?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 29(4), pages 327-334, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Rahel Aichele & Gabriel Felbermayr, 2011. "Effects of Kyoto Commitments on Emissions and Carbon Footprints," ifo Schnelldienst, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 64(22), pages 23-26, November.
    2. Hémous, David, 2013. "Environmental Policy and Directed Technical Change in a Global Economy: The Dynamic Impact of Unilateral Environmental Policies," CEPR Discussion Papers 9733, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    3. Ulrich Hoffmann, 2011. "Some Reflections On Climate Change, Green Growth Illusions And Development Space," UNCTAD Discussion Papers 205, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
    4. Rahel Aichele & Gabriel Felbermayr, 2011. "International trade and carbon leakage," ifo Schnelldienst, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 64(23), pages 26-30, December.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • Q20 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - General
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy

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