How valid are UK and EU claims to be leading the world in decarbonising their economies? Much of this answer depends upon how you allocate responsibility for carbon emissions between countries. Under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, countries are responsible for carbon emissions produced within their borders. But in an increasingly globalised world, citizens of wealthier countries are consuming a growing percentage of goods and services produced in developing countries. Are we simply off‐shoring our carbon emissions?

By Andrew Brinkley. Edited by Simon Less.