CO2 Emissions Embedded in Trade
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Provided by: Our World in Data|Published on: July 20, 2021
Data, Graphs, and Maps
Scientist Reviewed
9101112AP
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This interactive resource lets students explore a map, chart, and data table of the CO2 emissions of various countries that are embedded in trade.
- The data goes back to 1990 and all resources can be customized and downloaded.

Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences, Economics, Mathematics
Authors: Hannah Ritchie, Max Roser
Region: Global
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This resource is easy to use and allows students to explore specific countries or continents.
- The color coding makes the graphs easy to see and the graphs can be downloaded as images.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students should be familiar with the terms import, export, and trade.
- Students should know how to read a line graph and a world map.
Differentiation
- Connections can be made with social studies, economics, or geography classes when discussing the availability of natural resources in different countries, the impacts of trade on resource exploitation rates and local populations, and other costs of global trade.
- Economics or social studies classes can use this data to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of globalization, development, and population growth.
- This does not take into account other greenhouse gasses, so it might be interesting for students to also look at total greenhouse gas emissions for various countries using this data explorer.
This resource explores the share of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions embedded in trade, measured as emissions. It will provide insights on countries who are net exporters or importers of CO2 emissions equivalent to their domestic emissions adjusted for trade. Methods used in quantifying the datasets are appropriate and the resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
