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An Approach to Embodied Carbon Estimation in U.S. Imports
Citation:
Namovich, J., B. Young, J. Vendries, AND Wesley W. Ingwersen. An Approach to Embodied Carbon Estimation in U.S. Imports. ACLCA Conference, Cincinnati, OH, September 26 - 28, 2023.
Impact/Purpose:
To share initial results of embodied carbon in imports estimates that will be used in USEEIO models. USEEIO models are environmentally-extended input-output models useful for calculating potential cradle-to-gate impacts for U.S. product averages in ~400 categories. Imports are included in the models but to date their impacts have been assumed to be the same as their domestic equivalents. Here we present the methods and tentative results of a coupled-model approach to estimate the embodied carbon in imports within the USEEIO framework by deriving embodied carbon intensity factors from a similar model covering international regions (EXIOBASE) and aligning those with imports in USEEIO. Leveraging new import data we use this approach to develop embodied carbon intensities for imports specific to countries and regions including Canada, Mexico, Japan, China, Europe, other Asia-Pacific countries, as well as an average for imports from the rest of the world.
Description:
USEEIO models are environmentally-extended input-output models useful for calculating potential cradle-to-gate impacts for U.S. product averages in ~400 categories. Imports are included in the models but to date their impacts have been assumed to be the same as their domestic equivalents. Here we present the methods and tentative results of a coupled-model approach to estimate the embodied carbon in imports within the USEEIO framework by deriving embodied carbon intensity factors from a similar model covering international regions (EXIOBASE) and aligning those with imports in USEEIO. Leveraging new import data we use this approach to develop embodied carbon intensities for imports specific to countries and regions including Canada, Mexico, Japan, China, Europe, other Asia-Pacific countries, as well as an average for imports from the rest of the world. We discuss the challenges associated with this approach, potential implications for USEEIO model applications, and next steps.