Transport sector carbon linkages of EU's top seven emitters

Abstract

This study estimates total, inland, water and air transport net forward, backward and internal carbon linkages of EU's top seven emitters from 1995 to 2011. Moreover, it also reports direct emissions and intensities. Direct emissions of the seven for all four sectors mostly increased with varying proportions, while direct intensities followed a downward trend. Total, inland, water and air net backward emissions were reasonably stable excluding Germany who's total and inland net backward emissions sharply declined during 2000 while water and air emissions increased sharply. Although some nations witnessed a decrease, overall total, inland and air transport net forward emissions increased. While water transport net forward emissions had huge fluxes in the middle, stabilised towards the end. Total, inland, and air transport internal emissions for most of the nations increased over time. However, water transport internal emissions except for the UK were reasonably stable. ‘Electricity, Gas and Water Supply’ was the top source of German; Polish; Italian; British and Dutch net backward emissions. France and Spain's highest carbon imports were from ‘Coke, Refined Petroleum and Nuclear Fuel.’ Highest destinations of net forward emissions keep changing over time. The paper also discusses policy implications.