Leveraging International Trade for the Ecological Transition: Quantifying the Drivers of Planetary Boundaries

Using a multi-regional input-output database, we calculate environmental footprints embodied in trade relations related to the different planetary boundaries for different countries and economic activities. Results show that the pressure on planetary boundaries attributable to global trade ranges from 19% to 50%, depending on the boundary, suggesting that heterogeneity in pressure levels reflects the diverse economic structures of countries and regions, highlighting the influence of geographic and productive factors on ecological footprints.