Global outsourcing of carbon emissions 1995–2009: A reassessment

•We investigate carbon flows in international trade, adjusting for differences in production technology between countries.•The magnitude of global carbon outsourcing is shown to be much smaller than prior research has suggested.•Contrary to prior studies, we find no systematic and consistent emission outsourcing from developed to developing countries.•Some developed countries, e.g. Anglophone, were outsourcing emissions while others, e.g. the Nordics, did the opposite.•China emerges as a major emission insourcer, whereas other large developing countries show a completely different pattern.