Consumption-based GHG emission accounting

A UK case study

Dados Bibliográficos

ID23324879
AutoresJohn Barrett (0000-0002-4285-6849, University of Leeds, autor correspondente), Glen P Peters (0000-0001-7889-8568, CICERO Center for International Climate Research), Glen Peters, Thomas Wiedmann (0000-0002-6395-8887, UNSW Sydney), Kate Scott (0000-0002-3431-7554, University of Leeds), Manfred Lenzen (0000-0002-0828-5288, The University of Sydney), Katy Roelich (0000-0001-6979-5401, University of Leeds), Corinne Le Quéré (0000-0003-2319-0452, University of East Anglia)
Ano2013
Volume13
Fascículo4
Páginas451-470
Data de publicação2013-07-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoClimate Policy (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1469-3062 • E-ISSN: 1752-7457
EditoraInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/14693062.2013.788858
OpenAlexW2024725622
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas74
Referências citadas35

Global GHG emissions continue to rise, with nearly a quarter of it due to trade that is not currently captured within global climate policy. In the context of current trade patterns and limited global cooperation on climate change, the feasibility of consumption-based emissions accounting to contribute to a more comprehensive (national) policy framework in the UK is investigated. Consumption-based emissions results for the UK from a range of models are presented, their technical robustness is assessed, and their potential application in national climate policy is examined using examples of policies designed to reduce carbon leakage and to address high levels of consumption. It is shown that there is a need to include consumption-based emissions as a complementary indicator to the current approach of measuring territorial emissions. Methods are shown to be robust enough to measure progress on climate change and develop and inform mitigation policy. Finally, some suggestions are made for future policy-oriented research in the area of consumption-based accounting that will facilitate its application to policy. Policy relevance Emissions embodied in trade are rapidly increasing and there is thus a growing gap between production emissions and the emissions associated with consumption. This is a growing concern due to the absence of a global cap and significant variation in country-level mitigation ambitions. Robust measurements of consumption-based emissions are possible and provide new insights into policy options. This includes trade-related policy (e.g. border carbon adjustments) and domestic policies (e.g. resource efficiency strategies). As climate policy targets deepen, there is a need for a broad range of policy options in addition to production and technological solutions. Consumption-based emissions are complementary to production-based emissions inventories, which are still the most accurate estimate for aggregated emissions at the global level. However, without consumption-based approaches, territorial emissions alone will not provide a complete picture of progress in regional and national emissions reduction.

Business · Carbon leakage · Climate change · Climate change mitigation · Climate policy · Consumption (sociology) · Context (archaeology) · Economics · Emissions trading · Environmental economics · Greenhouse gas · Natural resource economics · Robustness (evolution) · Climate Change Policy and Economics · Energy, Environment, and Transportation Policies · Environmental Impact and Sustainability