An Empirical Study of Embodied Carbon Emission in Chinese International Trade

In this paper we first employ the input-output method to construct the measurement model of embodied carbon emissions and then calculate embodied carbon emissions from foreign trade over 1995-2011 based on the non-competitive input-output table in WIOD database. More specific, we calculate embodied carbon emissions from import trade, export trade and their difference, respectively. Moreover, we conduct our analysis from aggregate and sector level. The empirical results show that embodied carbon (EEE) emissions from export large than import and therefore china is a net exporter of embodied carbon emissions. Meanwhile, there exists a big difference in embodied carbon emissions across sectors. The empirical results might be useful for the government to make policy for industrial restructuring and reducing pollutions for high pollution sectors.