The Carbon Footprint of Material Production Rises to 23% of Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Edgar Hertwich
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Edgar Hertwich: Norwegian University of Science and Technology

No n9ecw, SocArXiv from Center for Open Science

Abstract: The production of materials is widely recognized to be an important source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and a range of policy processes now aim at enhancing material efficiency and circular economy. Yet, our understanding of the dynamics and drivers of material-related GHG emissions is limited. Previous analyses did not cover all materials and neither did they address the use of the materials nor their enabling of final consumption. Here, the hypothetical extraction method is used to quantify the GHG emissions from material production in a multiregional input-output model of the global economy and to trace the carbon footprint of materials from production through their first use to final consumption. GHG emissions from material production increased by 120% in the period 1995–2015 to 11 Gt CO2e, rising from 15 to 23% of global emissions. China accounted for 75% of the growth. Capital formation drives two thirds of emissions. Two fifths of materials in terms of GHG are used in construction, and two fifths are used in the manufacturing of machinery, vehicles, and other durable products. Policies addressing the rapidly growing capital stocks in emerging economies hence offer the best prospect for emission reductions from material efficiency.

Date: 2019-08-30
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ene and nep-env
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:osf:socarx:n9ecw

DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/n9ecw

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