Measuring greenhouse gas footprints in global production networks

This study builds on previous comparisons of production- and demand-based carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by introducing new greenhouse gas (GHG) footprints indicators for 76 economies, based on global production networks. The extended indicators include: i) measures that, beyond CO2 emissions from fuel combustion, account for CO2 from industrial processes and other GHGs such as methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases; ii) evaluation of demand-based emissions by category; and iii) combination of direct production-based emissions (System of Environmental-Economic Accounting residence principle) with upstream and downstream indirect emissions to estimate “Scope 3 emissions” by industry. Total GHG footprint indicators, compared to CO2-only footprints, show smaller differences in emissions intensities between OECD and non-OECD economies, due to the inclusion of non-CO2 emissions from Agriculture, Mining and Waste management. These indicators support policy analyses for decarbonising manufacturing, transitioning to renewable energy sources, and adjusting cross-border trade for high-carbon products.