• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Climate Attribution

  • Home
  • Search
    • Climate Change Attribution
    • Extreme Event Attribution
    • Impact Attribution
    • Source Attribution
    • Court Attribution
  • About
    • Contact
    • Sitemap
  • Related Resources
    • Conference – January 9-10, 2025
  • Subscribe

Attribution of CO2 Emissions from Brazilian Deforestation to Consumers Between 1990 and 2010

Summary/Abstract

Focusing on the period from 1990 to 2010, the research connects Brazilian deforestation’s carbon emissions directly to cattle and soybean production, further allocating these emissions across the global supply chain to the final consuming countries. It found that 30% of the carbon emissions related to deforestation were exported, growing significantly in the last decade, driven mainly by demand in industrialized nations and emerging markets such as Russia and China. This study identifies a correlation between the exports of Brazilian cattle and soybeans and the emissions from deforestation, concluding that international trade is increasingly a key factor in deforestation in Brazil. The findings suggest that while efforts like REDD+ aim to reduce deforestation for climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation, global consumption patterns and trade significantly impact deforestation rates, presenting a challenge to global efforts to preserve forests.

Karstensen, J., Peters, G. P., & Andrew, R. M. (2013). Attribution of CO2 emissions from Brazilian deforestation to consumers between 1990 and 2010. Environmental Research Letters, 8(2), 024005.

View Resource
April 2013
Jonas Karstensen, Glen P. Peters, Robbie M. Andrew
Environmental Research Letters
Peer-reviewed Study
Brazil
Source Attribution
Source Attribution → Sectoral Emissions

Footer

This website provides educational information. It does not, nor is it intended to, provide legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is established by use of this site. Consult with an attorney for any needed legal advice. There is no warranty of accuracy, adequacy or comprehensiveness. Those who use information from this website do so at their own risk.

© 2026 Sabin Center for Climate Change Law
Made with by Satellite Jones