The Carbon Footprint of Industry
Every sector of every economy leaves a carbon footprint — direct emissions plus all the emissions embedded in its supply chain.
Let's look at the data.
The Largest Footprint
Germany's motor vehicle industry has one of the largest total emission footprints of any country–industry pair.
At 160.8 MtCO₂e in 2019, it ranks #1 across all pairs in the dataset.
Focus: 2019
Let's zoom in on 2019 — the latest year — and examine what makes up those 160.8 megatonnes.
Where Do These Emissions Come From?
The total breaks down into four components:
- Upstream — emissions embodied in inputs from suppliers (72.1 Mt)
- Domestic value-added — from activities within Germany (40.3 Mt)
- Own direct — the sector's own direct emissions (20.7 Mt)
- Downstream — emissions embodied in outputs (27.7 Mt)
The Upstream Story
Nearly 45% of the total footprint comes from upstream — emissions embodied in inputs from around the world.
Where do these 72.1 MtCO₂e come from? Let's trace them back through the supply chain.
Direct Suppliers
The immediate upstream supply chain reveals a diverse set of inputs — metals from China and Germany, energy, chemicals, and vehicle parts from Japan and Korea.
China's basic metals sector alone contributes 12.8 MtCO₂e.
Deeper in the Supply Chain
Keep scrolling to trace emissions further back — from suppliers to their suppliers, and deeper still.
Each tier reveals another layer of the global emissions network behind a single industry.
↓ Scroll slowly to unfold tiers ↓
Supply Chain Concentration
The upstream network shows significant concentration. The top 5 supplier nodes account for a large share of total upstream emissions.
Mining and metals — especially from China, Russia, and Australia — dominate the deeper tiers.
Now: The Downstream
We've traced where emissions come from. But where do they go?
27.7 MtCO₂e are embodied in Germany's motor vehicle outputs — flowing downstream through trade and distribution to final consumers.
Immediate Destinations
German vehicles and parts flow to domestic wholesalers, direct final demand in the US and Germany, and re-export hubs across Europe and China.
To Final Consumption
Scroll to follow these emissions through distribution channels all the way to final consumers around the world.
↓ Scroll slowly to unfold tiers ↓
Where Emissions End Up
The emissions embodied in German motor vehicles ultimately reach consumers across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
This is the full picture: from raw materials extracted in Mongolia and Russia, through German factories, to driveways in France and parking lots in America.