Assessment of Scope 3 Emissions in European Automotive Value Chains

Abstract

This study analyses domestic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the automotive value chains of twelve European countries, selected based on their gross domestic product (GDP) to represent a cross-section of economic scales within the European Union. Building on the findings of a previous study, this research examines the relative significance of the automotive value chain, the emission profiles classified by scope, upstream emissions within the supply chain, and the specialization of countries in GHG-emitting sectors. Through comparative analysis, the study concludes that a country’s size (its GDP) and sectoral specialization shape the configuration of its domestic value chains. Furthermore, by aggregating the resulting value chains across countries, the study constructs the distribution of the emissions of an average European automotive value chain, revealing varying degrees of alignment among national value chains. The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers regarding the need to design GHG reduction policies tailored to each country’s specific characteristics and economic structures.