Global value added and embodied carbon emission transfers driven by lithium battery trade

The environmental consequences of the production and use of lithium batteries have been widely concerned in recent years. To uncover the environmental costs driven by lithium battery trade, this study traces value added and embodied carbon emission transfers using input-output model and network analysis. First, the results show the significant centralized trends occur as economies' average exchange partners decreased by 3.0% (value added) and 7.7% (carbon emissions), while transfer volumes surged 6595% and 5953%. Second, Germany and the USA show the most significant value added and carbon emissions in imports, while China dominates exports. Third, imbalanced flows exist: European Union (EU) countries exhibit high valued but low-carbon imports, contrasting with the USA and UK's low valued but carbon-intensive imports in 2021. Economies bearing notable environmental costs differ between imports (India) and exports (Mexico and Indonesia). These results inform lithium battery supply chain restructuring strategies by quantifying trade-driven environmental-economic linkages.