ABSTRACT

We assess embodied carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in U.S. trade and analyze total CO2 emissions of U.S. households across 13 income groups through connecting the global multi-region input-output (MRIO) model with U.S. consumer expenditure survey data. Our results show that the U.S. imported a large amount of emissions from other less developed but high emissions-intensity countries, such as China, India, and Southeast Asian countries. This share is larger for richer households. Also the carbon intensity of consumption varies significantly, with higher-income households spending a larger share on less carbon-intensive items, such as education and leisure activities. This reduction in intensity is partly compensated by high-income pursuits such as a larger number of international trips, larger homes and more of everything that contributes to the higher footprints of richer households.