A global analysis of CO_(2)and non-CO_(2)GHG emissions embodied in trade with Belt and Road Initiative countries

Introduction:The Belt and Road Initiative(BRI)is an important cooperative framework that increasingly affects the global economy,trade,and emission patterns.However,most existing studies pay insufficient attention to consumption-based emissions,embodied emissions,and non-CO_(2) greenhouse gases(GHGs).This study constructs a GHG emissions database to study the trends and variations in production-based,consumption-based,and embodied emissions associated with BRI countries.Outcome:We find that the per capita GHG emissions of BRI countries are lower than the global average but show significant variation within this group.We also find that trade-embodied emissions between BRI countries and China are growing.As a group,BRI countries are anet exporter of GHGs,with a global share of net export emissions of about 20%.In 2011,nearly 80%of GHG export emissions from BRI countries flowed to non-BRI countries,and nearly 15%flowed to China;about 57%of GHG import emissions were from non-BRI countries,and about 38%were from China.Conclusion:Therefore,this study concludes that the BRI should be used to coordinate climate governance to accelerate and strengthen the dissemination and deployment of low-emissions technologies,strategies,and policies within the BRI so as to avoid a carbon-intensive lock-in effect.