Improved sustainability assessment of the G20’s supply chains of materials, fuels, and food

Abstract Transparency in global value chains of materials, fuels, and food is critical for the implementation sustainability policies. Such policies should be led by G20, who represent more than 80% material, fuel, consumption. Multi-regional input–output analysis plays an important role consumption-based assessment, including supply their environmental impacts. However, previous accounting schemes were unable to fully assess impacts food. To close this gap, we provide improved method map key aspects along The results show that rise coal-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions between 1995 2015 was driven G20’s metals construction materials industry. In 2015, G20 accounted 96% GHG emissions, which almost half from extraction processing China India. Major drivers include China’s rising infrastructure exports embodied machinery, transport, electronics consumed other members. vast majority (70%–95%) EU, USA, Canada, Australia, members emitted abroad, mostly China. contrast, hotspots impact displacement water stress, land-use related biodiversity loss, low-paid workforce involve imports non-G20 Particularly high-income have contributed footprints increasing demand food, fuels extracted processed lower-income regions with less strict policies, higher loss. Our underline importance switching renewable energy, substituting high-impact improving chains, using site-specific competitive advantages reduce on ecosystems.