Research finds trade accounts for 20% of global emissions, but imports often ignored

A new study shows that internationally traded goods and services drive roughly one-fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet most countries fail to account for imported emissions in their climate commitments and policies.

First covered Sep 15, 2026 · 1:19 AM PT · 1 article · no longer in the live window

Research finds trade accounts for 20% of global emissions, but imports often ignored — Image via climatechangenews.com

Coverage

11d Climate Home News International trade linked to 20% of global emissions – but imports ignored — Researchers say governments should discuss how to tackle emissions linked to globally traded goods and services, especially in large importing countries The…

Primary sources

d2jiw2zrmmyqt8.cloudfront.net New Delhi Declaration 2026 1 (d2jiw2zrmmyqt8.cloudfront.net)

unfccc.int Revised%20 %20Cn Dialogue%20On%20Trade%20And%20Climate%20Change Sb64 (unfccc.int)

More coverage from around the web

gtreview.com More than 20% of global emissions linked to international trade, data shows | Global Trade Review (GTR)

pnas.org Growth in emission transfers via international trade from 1990 to 2008 | PNAS

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov The narrowing gap in developed and developing country emission intensities reduces global trade’s carbon leakage - PMC

nature.com The narrowing gap in developed and developing country emission intensities reduces global trade’s carbon leakage | Nature Communications

lse.ac.uk How does trade contribute to climate change and how can it advance climate action? - Grantham Research Institute on climate change and the environment

Appeared in: 2026-09-15 (#2) · 2026-09-16 (#19)

← Back to the brief