Transfer Characteristics of Embodied Carbon Emissions in Export Trade—Evidence from China

Abstract

The export trade of China, the factory of the world, promotes economic growth while increasing carbon emissions. This study integrates China’s multi-regional input–output table and the world input–output table to explore the international transfer-in effect and foreign spillover effect of carbon emissions caused by China’s export trade. A structural decomposition analysis model is also used to identify the influencing factors of carbon emissions caused by China’s export trade of intermediate and final products. Results show that: (1) 45.13–58.87% of the transfer-in carbon emissions resulting from China’s export trade are caused by developed countries and 41.13–54.87% by developing countries; (2) the foreign spillover effect caused by China’s export trade is primarily associated with developing countries, accounting for 63.79–69.61%; (3) carbon emissions caused by the export of intermediate products (final products) in China are primarily caused by the scale effect (industrial linkage). China should adjust the structure of its export trade in accordance with the characteristics of embodied carbon emissions in export trade to achieve low-carbon development.