Embodied Carbon Accounting for Forest Industry Trade in BRICS Countries: An MRIO Modeling Approach

Abstract

A multi-regional input-output (MRIO) model was constructed to measure and compare the trade-induced carbon emissions within the forest industry among the BRICS countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The results indicate the following: (1) The primary source of import/export-related carbon emissions from the forest industry in BRICS countries is the trade of paper products, with the exception of Russia, where wood products significantly contribute to its export-related carbon emissions. (2) The net carbon emissions from forest industry trade in BRICS countries underwent varying degrees of volatility during the period from 2008 to 2013. (3) China and Russia exhibited notably higher levels of trade-induced carbon emissions in their forest industries compared to other BRICS nations, while the scale of embodied carbon emissions from international trade in the forest industry of South Africa, Brazil, and India remained relatively similar. (4) The trade-induced carbon emissions of the forest industry in BRICS countries were predominantly export-oriented between 1995 and 2018. Therefore, it is recommended that BRICS nations prioritize addressing carbon emissions within the forest industry’s trade sector. Collaborative efforts should be intensified to promote cleaner development pathways, foster sustainable economic growth, and take a more proactive stance in global climate change negotiations.