Local consumption and global environmental impacts: accounting, trade-offs and sustainability

"As a result of globalization, goods and services consumed in one country are often produced in other countries and exchanged via international trade. This book describes how local consumption is increasingly met by global supply chains, often involving large geographical distances and leading to global environmental impacts, such as pollution, climate change, water scarcity, and deforestation and other land conversions. The authors provide an overview of key methods, including Multi-Regional Input-Output analysis and Life Cycle Assessment. Subsequent chapters connect local consumption to the global consequences of different environmental issues"--

Cover -- Half Title -- Series Page -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Table of Contents -- List of figures -- List of tables -- 1. Introduction -- Consumption and environmental sustainability -- Looking into the future: growth in consumption and its global effects -- Linking local consumption to global environmental changes -- References -- 2. Methodology: Environmental impact accounting approaches -- Introduction -- Methods and data -- Biophysical accounting approaches (BPAs) -- Monetary trade flow approach (MTF) -- Land embodied in bilateral trade (LEBT) -- Multi-region input-output analysis (MRIO) -- Multi-regional input-output databases -- Results -- Conclusions -- References -- 3. Local consumption and global air pollution -- Introduction -- Territorial and consumption-based SO2 emissions -- Consumption-based SO2 emissions from domestic production and import -- Embodied SO2 emissions and household consumption patterns -- International trade of SO2 emissions -- U.S. consumption and global SO2 emissions -- UK consumption and global SO2 emissions -- Conclusions -- References -- 4. Local consumption and global land use -- Introduction -- Territorial and consumption-based land use -- Embodied land in global trade -- Land footprint and consumption patterns -- Discussion and conclusions -- References -- 5. Carbon footprint of Chinese megacities: Case studies of Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and Chongqing -- Introduction -- Socio-economic characteristics of the four megacities -- Carbon footprints of four megacities -- Embodied CO2 emissions in final consumption sectors -- Carbon emissions and household consumption patterns -- Conclusion and discussion -- References -- 6. Economic gains and environmental losses of U.S. consumption -- Introduction -- A world-systems view of air pollution.

Cover; Half Title; Series Page; Title Page; Copyright Page; Table of Contents; List of figures; List of tables; 1. Introduction; Consumption and environmental sustainability; Looking into the future: growth in consumption and its global effects; Linking local consumption to global environmental changes; References; 2. Methodology: Environmental impact accounting approaches; Introduction; Methods and data; Biophysical accounting approaches (BPAs); Monetary trade flow approach (MTF); Land embodied in bilateral trade (LEBT); Multi-region input-output analysis (MRIO)

This book describes how local consumption, particularly in urban areas, is increasingly met by global supply chains. These supply chains often extend over large geographical distances and have greater global environmental impacts, contributing to pollution, climate change, water scarcity, and deforestation. As consumption is increasingly met by globalized supply chains, causing social, economic, and environmental impacts elsewhere, consumption decisions can unknowingly contribute and reinforce global inequality and exploitation. To account for the impacts of consumption and distribution of wealth we need to analyze global supply and value chains. In this volume, the authors provide an overview of key methods of analysis, including Multi-Regional Input-Output analysis and Life Cycle Assessment. Subsequent chapters connect local consumption to the global consequences of different environmental issues, such as water and land use and stress, greenhouse gases emissions, and other forms of air pollution. Each issue is addressed in an individual chapter, including case studies from China, U.S. and UK. The book will be key reading for students taking courses in environmental sciences, sustainability sciences, ecological economies, and geography.