Carbon Offshoring: theoretical and empirical analysis of Italian manufacturing companies

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to deploy and develop the concept of carbon offshoring and its development and to account for the role that nation and local companies play in the climate change problems that derives from it. The study examines the origins of this phenomenon, its nature, and its implication within different nations, in particular China, USA, France, UK. In the thesis it is asked in what extend and in what ways, nation in general and manufacturing companies contribute, with carbon offshoring, to deepen and worsen the world’s pollution and consequence on global warming. The first part of the analysis is to understand, from policy maker and academic paper, the nuances of this multi-level phenomenon. In the second part, using two case studies of firm-level analysis of the relation between carbon offshoring and the manufacturing sector’s emissions, it is shown the Italian situation and whether, during a period of 30 years, the sector has contributed with its imports and emission, to increase carbon emission embedded into non-domestic commodities. The significance of this study is to inform a theoretical understanding of the problem by focusing on the analysis of the main actor of the carbon offshoring activity, to then informing about the empirical analysis through the case study.