Electronic copy available at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1804098 Emissions Intensity and Global Patterns of Trade and Development Stratford Douglas # and Shuichiro Nishioka * March 2011 Abstract: Understanding international differences in the emissions intensity of trade and production is essential to understanding the effects of greenhouse gas limitation policies. We develop data on emissions from 41 industrial sectors in 39 countries and estimate the CO 2 emissions intensity of production and trade. We find no evidence that developing countries specialize in emissions-intensive sectors; instead, emissions intensities differ systematically across countries because of differences in production techniques. Thus, the technology of developing countries drives the greater emissions intensity of their exports. Our results suggest that international differences in emissions intensity, while substantial, do not play a significant factor in determining patterns of trade. F18: Trade and Environment Q27: Renewable Resources and Conservation: Issues in International Trade Q56: Environment and Trade; Environmental Accounting Keywords: Heckscher-Ohlin; Emissions Technique; CO 2 Emissions; Environment # Department of Economics, PO Box 6025, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506 6025, Tel: +1(304) 293-7863, Fax: +1(304) 293-5652, E-mail: stratford.douglas@mail.wvu.edu. * Department of Economics, PO Box 6025, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506 6025, Tel: +1(304) 293-7875, Fax: +1(304) 293-5652, E-mail: shuichiro.nishioka@mail.wvu.edu. This research is supported by the Kennedy-Vanscoy Summer Research Fund for Faculty Development of the College of Business and Economics at West Virginia University.