Towards the decarbonisation of Ecuador. A multi-sectoral and multi-regional analysis of its carbon footprint

Abstract

Globally, interest in the environment and its conservation is growing and primordial. In particular, CO2 emissions generated by productive processes in a given territory in order to satisfy own and global consumption. Two types of responsibilities stand out, the producer’s and the consumer’s. Based on the Multi-regional Input-Output Methodology, this study determined Ecuador's responsibility in terms of CO2 emissions, defining the economic sectors that have the greatest representation in these emissions, as well as establishing an assessment at the level of the Trade Balance. There has been a strong growth of Ecuador’s Footprint of 145.26% from 2000 to 2015, with the transport and secondary sectors having the highest representation and the trade with the BRICS nations standing out. This results strengthens the need to foster a change in the population’s and the public administrations’ consumption patterns. So it is recommended that the authorities allocate part of the public budget to measures oriented to sustainable consumption.