Adjusted Per Capita Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Abstract: This work presents an analysis of the adjusted per capita greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for selected European countries - Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Portugal. The adjustment considers not only direct emissions but also emissions embedded in international trade, providing a more holistic view of each country's environmental impact.

Introduction Climate Change and GHG Emissions: A Global Challenge The 21st century faces an unprecedented challenge in the form of climate change, largely driven by increased concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the Earth's atmosphere. Primary among these gases is carbon dioxide (CO2), alongside methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and others, which trap heat and contribute to global warming. The sources of these emissions are diverse, ranging from fossil fuel combustion and deforestation to industrial processes and agriculture. The Role of Per Capita Emissions in Understanding Climate Impact Per capita GHG emissions provide a crucial metric for understanding the environmental impact of individual countries. This measure allows for a comparison between nations, taking into account the size of their populations. It offers insights into the efficiency of a country's policies and technologies in terms of emission reduction and energy usage. International Trade and Carbon Footprint In an increasingly interconnected world, the carbon footprint of a country is not just a matter of domestic emissions. The concept of 'embodied carbon' in trade accounts for GHG emissions associated with the production of imported and exported goods and services. This comprehensive approach ensures that a country's carbon accounting reflects both its production-based emissions and consumption-based emissions, providing a more accurate picture of its true environmental impact. Objective This paper aims to analyze and visualize the adjusted per capita GHG emissions for selected European countries – Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Portugal – over a defined time period. By adjusting these emissions for trade-related activities, the research seeks to offer a nuanced understanding of each country's carbon footprint in the context of global economic dynamics.

Methodology The analysis is based on two key datasets : Per Capita GHG Emissions:

This dataset contains the annual greenhouse gas emissions per capita for various countries, expressed in CO2 equivalents. The emissions data cover a range of years and include carbon dioxide, methane, and other significant GHGs.

Share of CO2 Emissions Embedded in Trade:

This dataset represents the share of a country's annual CO2 emissions attributed to international trade, either as imports or exports. The data is expressed as a percentage of the total annual CO2 emissions.

Country Selection The study focuses on seven European countries: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Portugal. These countries were selected to provide a diverse but geographically connected sample, representing different sizes, economies, and environmental policies within Europe. Data Processing and Adjustment The per capita emissions data were adjusted to account for the share of emissions embedded in trade. This was achieved by modifying the per capita emissions figures based on the trade emissions share, effectively adding or subtracting the emissions associated with imported and exported goods and services. The formula used for this adjustment is as follows:

Analytical Approach The study employs a time-series analysis to observe trends in adjusted per capita GHG emissions over the available years. This approach highlights changes and patterns in each country's emissions, offering insights into the impact of domestic policies and global trade dynamics.

Results and Discuss Trends in Adjusted Per Capita GHG Emissions The analysis reveals distinct trends in adjusted per capita GHG emissions among the selected European countries. The graph illustrates how these emissions have evolved over the observed years, reflecting the interplay of domestic environmental policies and international trade patterns.

Country-Specific Observations Austria and Germany showed a gradual decrease in adjusted per capita emissions, suggesting effective emission reduction strategies, possibly combined with a shift towards less carbon-intensive imports and exports.

France maintained relatively stable emissions, indicative of consistent environmental policies and balanced trade in terms of carbon footprint.

Belgium and the Netherlands exhibited slight fluctuations, potentially due to changes in industrial activities and trade dynamics.

Spain and Portugal demonstrated variable trends, which might be influenced by economic factors and shifts in energy sources

Impact of International Trade

The adjustment for trade-related emissions provides additional insights: Countries heavily reliant on imported goods with high embodied carbon showed increased adjusted emissions, highlighting the significance of consumption-based carbon accounting. Conversely, countries with a strong export base of low-carbon

goods benefitted from reduced adjusted per capita emissions, underlining the role of trade in national carbon footprints.

Implications and Future Considerations These findings underscore the complexity of carbon accounting in the context of globalized trade. They highlight the need for comprehensive policies that consider both domestic emission reduction and the carbon footprint of trade. Future research could expand to more countries and incorporate more granular trade data, further refining our understanding of global GHG emissions. Conclusion The study's comparative analysis of adjusted per capita GHG emissions in selected European countries provides crucial insights into the multifaceted nature of national carbon footprints. It emphasizes the importance of considering both domestic emissions and international trade in GHG accounting. The observed trends and variations across countries underscore the need for holistic and globally informed environmental policies to effectively address the challenges of climate change.

Data

References:

Hannah Ritchie, Max Roser and Pablo Rosado (2020) - "CO₂ and Greenhouse Gas Emissions". Published online at OurWorldInData.org. Retrieved from: 'https://ourworldindata.org/co2-and-greenhouse-gas-emissions' [Online Resource]