Corrigendum to “Agricultural and forestry trade drives large share of tropical deforestation emissions” [Global Environ. Change 56 (2019) 1–10](S0959378018314365)(10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2019.03.002)

Abstract

The authors regret that, due to an error found in the code of the physical trade (PT) model for trade in ‘Vegetables, fruits and nuts’, some of the results presented in the paper are erroneous. These errors have only a small impact on the headline result of the paper: the share of deforestation emissions driven by trade decreases from 29% to 26% for the physical trade model. The results from the attribution of deforestation emissions to different commodities, as well as the results from the economic (MRIO) trade model, are unaffected by this error. As such, the conclusions of the paper are not altered. While the error primarily affects the estimated trade in deforestation and associated carbon emissions attributed to ‘Vegetables, fruits and nuts’, this also affects the following aggregate numbers reported in the paper (corrected numbers in bold, previous numbers in square brackets): “[…]deforestation emissions constitute a substantial share (∼13% [∼15%]) of the total carbon footprint of food consumption in EU countries” (Abstract, p. 1). “Looking at physical trade flows in the PT model, 26% (0.7 GtCO2 yr−1) [29% (0.8 GtCO2 yr−1)] of emissions embodied in production were attributed to exports.” (3.1. p. 5). “The importance of trade is further pronounced if one excludes cattle meat, […] with the export share rising to 35%[38]–48% (from the PT and MRIO model, respectively).” (3.1. p. 5). “The exported share of embodied emissions varies considerably by commodity and country (Fig. 2). Latin America exports 22[23]–34% of its emissions, though the difference between the two main drivers, cattle meat (11–21%) and oilseeds 70([71]–89%), is large. The Asia-Pacific region exports a higher share (40[44]–49%), and Africa a lower share (8[9]–32%).” (3.1. p. 5). “On average, we find that deforestation emissions embodied in imports amount to 15[17]–31% of national agricultural emissions (0.22[0.25]–0.42 GtCO2 yr−1 imported, compared to 1.45 GtCO2e yr−1 national emissions for year 2012)” (3.1. p. 5). “The average EU footprint is estimated at 0.2–0.3 tCO2/cap/yr [0.3 tCO2/cap/yr for both trade models]” (3.1. p.5). The supplementary spreadsheet with the results from the PT model has been updated. Some of the figures in the paper are also affected by the error, primarily Fig. 2b (where the exported share has changed significantly for the Vegetables, fruit and nuts category) and Fig. 3c (where the two trade flows in Vegetable, fruit and nuts included in the top 20 largest individual country-to-country trade flows are no longer valid), as well as supplementary Figs. A.5 top and A.6e. Updated figures can be provided from the authors upon request. The authors would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.