Estimation of the embodied carbon in China's wood products trade using input–output methodology

Abstract

This study calculates the embodied carbon in imports, exports, net exports, and the processing trade of China's wood product sector between 2001 and 2016 using a non-competitive input–output (I–O) model. The results demonstrate that embodied carbon showed a decreasing trend between 2001 and 2016. Embodied carbon was lowest in wood furniture imports and highest in paper and paperboard imports. The embodied carbon in sawnwood and veneer sheet exports was the lowest and paper and paperboard exports was the highest. The embodied carbon in the processing trade of paper and paperboard was the highest. To reduce the embodied carbon in China's wood products, the government should promote technological transformation and upgrading and encourage the implementation of green technology innovation.

Keywords

• Input–output model
• Wood products
• Processing trade
• Import
• Export
• Net export