How GVC division affects embodied carbon emissions in China's exports?

Abstract

With the rapid growth of China's foreign trade scale, the embodied carbon emissions in China's exports show a significant upward trend, which has been experiencing a considerable increase of researchers' attention. This study attempts to measure the embodied carbon emissions in China's exports from 1995 to 2011 based on the MRIO model and WIOD data. Compared with previous studies, this paper introduces the gross trade accounting method and constructs the GVC impact index and EC position index to comprehensively explore the impact of the GVC division on embodied carbon emissions in China's export trade. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) The fast-growing embodied carbon emissions in China's export trade were mainly caused by intermediate products trade. And the impact of the GVC division on embodied carbon emissions increased with the deepening of the participation in GVC division. (2) Although China played a role of the "pollution haven" in GVCs, China's EC position index ascended with the deepening of the participation in GVCs. (3) In the context of GVCs, consumer responsibility principle is more equitable and rational, which be widely suggested in the calculation of national carbon emissions responsibility.