Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, Japan
Online ISSN : 1881-0519
Print ISSN : 1880-2761
ISSN-L : 1880-2761
Research Article
Practical determination of sectoral environmental burdens applied to input-output analysis
Keisuke NANSAIYuichi MORIGUCHI
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2006 Volume 2 Issue 1 Pages 22-41

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Abstract

This study examined theoretical conditions that sectoral unit environmental burdens must meet for calculation of embodied environmental intensity founded on an input-output system. This paper describes characteristics of two practical approaches to estimate a unit environmental burden: an exogenous estimate approach and an endogenous estimate approach. Technical problems that exist in applying these approaches to calculate a unit environmental burden for sectors of Japanese Input-Output Tables are also explained. As a case study, the endogenous estimate approach was used to estimate sectoral unit carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions based on Japanese Input-Output Tables (2000). This work calculated embodied CO2 emission intensities of about 400 sectors by an input-output analysis, and summarized quantitative characteristics of intensities for major sectors. For examination of the relationship between economic final demands and CO2 emission, the Japanese CO2 emission structure in 2000 was illustrated using those intensities. Results confirmed that household consumption generated about 49% of domestically produced CO2, either directly (13%) or indirectly (36%). Respective direct and indirect expenditures of central and local governments contributed only 4% and 4% of CO2, although their economic final demands dominated 8% and 8% of the total final demand. These demands engendered less environmental impact than did public capital investment, which accounted for 8% of the total CO2 and 6% of the total final demand. Moreover, the skyline figure of households' consumption identified some commodities for which induced CO2 generation can be mitigated through technologically improved production and some commodities for which induced CO2 can be reduced through adjustment of households expenditure.

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© 2006 The Institute of Life Cycle Assessment, Japan
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