Local Consumption and Territorial Based Accounting for CO2 Emissions

We examine the complications involved in attributing emissions at a sub-regional or local level. Specifically, we look at how functional specialisation embedded within the metropolitan area can, via trade between sub-regions, create intrametropolitan emissions interdependencies; and how this complicates environmental policy implementation in an analogous manner to international trade at the national level. For this purpose we use a 3-region emissions extended input-output model of the Glasgow metropolitan area (2 regions: city and surrounding suburban area) and the rest of Scotland. The model utilises data on commuter flows and household consumption to capture income and consumption flows across sub-regions. This enables a carbon attribution analysis at the sub-regional level, allowing us to shed light on the significant emissions interdependencies that can exist within metropolitan areas.