Decoding EXIOBASE: Internal CIRCOMOD Workshop

Within the dynamic journey of the CIRCOMOD project, the pursuit of objectives is marked by an unceasing spirit of exploration, sharing, and collaborative learning. As a collective of experts, each well-versed in specific methodologies, data, and resources, the project team thrives on routine communication and the orchestration of specialized workshops. An exemplar of this proactive spirit unfolded on the 22nd of June, 2023, when an online workshop brought together more than 15 researchers representing various CIRCOMOD partner organizations. The focal point of this session was to present the intricacies of the EXIOBASE database and its profound utility within the project’s landscape.

Decoding EXIOBASE:

EXIOBASE is a global, detailed Multi-Regional Environmentally Extended Supply-Use Table (MR-SUT) and Input-Output Table (MR-IOT). It was developed by harmonizing and detailing supply-use tables for many countries, estimating emissions and resource extractions by industry. Subsequently the country supply-use tables were linked via trade, creating an MR-SUT and producing an MR-IOT from this. The MR-IOT can be used for the analysis of the environmental impacts that are associated with the final consumption of groups of products.

The workshop was structured into three distinct sessions, each offering a unique facet of understanding. Richard Wood and his NTNU colleagues inaugurated the proceedings with an illuminating presentation, shedding light on the nuances of the EXIOBASE database. Their discourse spanned the extensions and the future applications of this database within the CIRCOMOD framework.

Darius Corbier from CMCC and Dimitris Kapetanakis from E3M then shared their insights from a modeler’s perspective. They delved into the role that the EXIOBASE database plays within Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) models, illuminating how these models simulate the intricate dynamics of the circular economy. The session became a melting pot of ideas, interventions, and engaging queries from the participants.

Charting Future Pathway

As the workshop drew to a close, a sense of agreement and collaboration have established. Partners, especially those linked to the development of EXIOBASE, committed to initiate a robust exchange of information. This collaborative endeavor aims to actualize the integration of EXIOBASE into stylized CGE models, further elevating the project’s capabilities and insights.

In the backdrop of this internal workshop, the CIRCOMOD project continues to flourish, drawing strength from the convergence of minds and the illumination of knowledge. With each step forward, the project etches a path toward a circular and sustainable future, fortified by collaborative vigor and the wealth of shared insights.