Emissions and health impacts from global shipping embodied in US–China bilateral trade

Huan Liu (), Zhi-Hang Meng, Zhao-Feng Lv, Xiao-Tong Wang, Fan-Yuan Deng, Yang Liu, Yan-Ni Zhang, Meng-Shuang Shi, Qiang Zhang () and Ke-Bin He ()
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Huan Liu: Tsinghua University
Zhi-Hang Meng: Tsinghua University
Zhao-Feng Lv: Tsinghua University
Xiao-Tong Wang: Tsinghua University
Fan-Yuan Deng: Tsinghua University
Yang Liu: Tsinghua University
Yan-Ni Zhang: Tsinghua University
Meng-Shuang Shi: Tsinghua University
Qiang Zhang: Tsinghua University
Ke-Bin He: Tsinghua University

Nature Sustainability, 2019, vol. 2, issue 11, 1027-1033

Abstract: Abstract Global shipping activity emits 938 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, surpassing the eighth highest emitting country. Although the impacts from the shipping industry have been investigated over the past three decades, allocating responsibilities remains a difficult issue. Numerous parties should share the responsibility and quantitative analysis is therefore required when considering the interaction between the global economy, shipping and ecological connectivity. Here, beginning with our shipping emission inventory model based on satellite-observed vessel activities, we evaluated trade-embodied shipping emissions and their impacts on human health. Combined with international trade databases, we traced shipping impacts back to responsible bilateral trade and proposed an integrated trade–shipping–air quality–health impact nexus. Quantitative analysis shows that the US–China bilateral trade is responsible for 2.5% of the global shipping carbon dioxide emissions and 4.8% of ship-related global premature deaths caused by air pollution. Our research provides the methodology to allocate intercontinental responsibilities to trade pairs and ships.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41893-019-0414-z

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