This study investigates how different technological and
socioeconomic
drivers have impacted the carbon footprint of primary metals. It analyzes
the historical evidence from 1995 to 2018 using new metal production,
energy use, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission extensions made for
the multiregional input–output model EXIOBASE. A combination
of established input–output methods (index decomposition analysis,
hypothetical extraction method, and footprint analysis) is used to
dissect the drivers of the change in the upstream emissions occurring
due to the production of metals demanded by other (downstream) economic
activities. On a global level, GHG emissions from metal production
have increased at a similar pace as the GDP but have decreased in
high-income countries in the most recent 6 year period studied. This
absolute decoupling in industrialized countries is mainly driven by
reduced metal consumption intensity and improved energy efficiency.
However, in emerging economies increasing metal consumption intensity
and affluency have driven up emissions, more than offsetting any reductions
due to improved energy efficiency.