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To mitigate climate change, individual greenhouse gas emissions need to decline substantially. This paper empirically explores the relationship between individual carbon footprints and carbon literacy as well as socio-economic and attitudinal factors. To operationalize carbon literacy, we distinguish between carbon knowledge and carbon engagement. Our econometric analysis uses widely representative survey data for 1000 individuals in Germany and distinguishes between components of an aggregate carbon footprint and of carbon footprints related with electricity consumption, heating, motorized individual transport, aviation, and dietary choices. We find a negative and sizeable correlation between carbon engagement and the aggregate footprint, as well as the footprints related to electricity consumption and diet. For example, a one-unit increase in our index reflecting carbon engagement corresponds to a decrease in the aggregate carbon footprint of about 4%. Furthermore, for carbon knowledge we find a negative correlation with the carbon footprint from diet. We also find significant correlations between the carbon footprints and gender, age, income, education, environmental preferences, and policy orientation, which generally exhibit the intuitively expected signs, but differ somewhat across activities. Overall, our findings support the notion that fostering carbon engagement represents a more effective strategy for reducing individuals' carbon footprints than enhancing carbon knowledge. • We study the relationship between carbon literacy and carbon footprints. • We break down carbon literacy into carbon knowledge and carbon engagement. • Individual-level carbon footprints calculated from representative data in Germany. • Carbon footprints calculated for electricity use, heating, transport, and diet. • Econometric findings stress role of carbon engagement for carbon footprints. • Carbon footprints are correlated with socio-economic factors and policy orientation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A key policy instrument to conserve biodiversity in agricultural landscapes are agri-environment schemes (AES). AES typically incentivise specific conservation measures which are independent of a specific state of an ecosystem or a species. In this paper we take up the idea of state-dependent conservation measures which means that in each period of interest the decision about the design of the conservation measure is made dependent on the state of the ecosystem or the species of interest. We develop a modelling framework to compare the cost-effectiveness of AES which incentivise state-dependent conservation measures (AES-SD) with AES which incentivise state-independent conservation measures (AES-SI). We apply the framework to a case study of meadow bird conservation through specific mowing regimes in the Aller river valley in Germany, and compare an AES-SI with fixed mowing dates and an AES-SD with mowing dates depending on the phenological start of spring. We find that AES-SD substantially outperforms AES-SI. Cost-effectiveness gains arise as the connection of mowing dates to phenological events increase the breeding success of the meadow birds but also as farmers accept slightly lower compensation payments as mowing in dependence of the state of the grassland reduces fluctuations in their fodder yields. • We analyse the cost-effectiveness of state-dependent AES. • The design of state-dependent AES depends on the state of the ecosystem. • State-dependent conservation is known in conservation planning but new to AES design. • We design a state-dependent AES for meadow bird conservation in Germany. • We show that cost-effectiveness gains of a state-dependent AES can be substantial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Germany remains the only large country in the world without a general speed limit on highways. One of the main arguments for this policy is that lower speeds represent a travel time cost that is not outweighed by benefits, such as a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. As transport decision making in the European Union is based on cost-benefit analysis (CBA), this paper compares the value of travel time, fuel consumption, infrastructure, crashes, carbon dioxide (CO 2), and air pollution. Results suggests that, at the low end of the estimate, a 130 kph speed limit will generate welfare gains in the order of 950 million Euro per year. The 'no speed limit' policy consequently represents a subsidy forwarded to fast drivers. The paper also discusses the views of the public vis-à-vis automobile lobbies, and the relevance of Germany's climate change mitigation law, mandating that transport systems be decarbonized. The CBA suggests that a 130 kph speed limit is a policy field where environmental concerns, positive economic effects, and public opinion can be aligned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deployment of onshore wind power is an important means to mitigate climate change. However, wind turbines also have negative impacts at the local scale, like disamenities to residents living nearby, changes in landscape quality, or conflicts with nature conservation. Our paper quantifies spatial trade-offs arising between these criteria. For this purpose, we propose a novel approach using Pareto frontiers and a Gini-like potential trade-off indicator. Our analysis builds on a spatial optimization model using geographical information system data for Germany. We show that spatial trade-offs between the criteria under consideration are substantial. The size of the trade-off varies substantially with the criteria under consideration, depending on the spatial heterogeneity of each criterion as well as on the spatial correlation between the criteria. Spatial trade-offs are particularly pronounced between nature conservation (measured by impacts on wind power-sensitive birds) and other criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high level of nitrogen emissions over the last decades and their adverse impact on the natural environment and human health are a pressing environmental issue. A nitrogen tax can be a cost-efficient and effective policy instrument to reduce nitrogen emissions. However, adverse effects on low- and middle-income households might lead to societal and political frictions that could end up in resistance. In this paper we investigate how a hypothetical nitrogen tax covering the specific external costs of nitrogen could be implemented and estimate its short-term distributional effects on household income groups in Germany. The findings show that the proposed tax would be regressive. However, if the tax rate is set equal to the true cost of nitrogen, the monetary impacts would overall be small, ranging from 1.15% of income for the first income quintile to 0.66% for the fifth. Complementary policy measures to lower the burden on low-income households, farmers and the energy sector could preempt social resistance against the tax. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper quantifies changes in the trend of greenhouse gas footprints associated with household consumption covering a period of 20 years. We combine greenhouse gas emissions related to the supply chain (embedded) and consumption (direct) with households' consumption expenditures from the sample survey of income and expenditure (EVS), and present the first comprehensive study on trends in greenhouse gas footprints of German households. We find a decay in changes in GHG footprints as a response to increases in household expenditure over time. In addition, our estimated own-price elasticities for electricity and heating indicate an increasing demand response to higher energy prices. However, this does not translate to a clear decreasing trend in the total GHG footprint because of the role of changes in the demand of other commodities and changes in expenditure levels across years. Further, comparing results of the more advanced EASI demand system with those of the more widely used QUAIDS approach, we find sizable differences. • Mean GHG footprints of German households have fallen by 21% from 1998 to 2018. • Heating, transport and food contribute most to the mean GHG footprint in all years. • The expenditure elasticity of GHG footprints is quite stable at 0.92 (+/− 0.01). • Own-price elasticities for electricity and heating show increasing demand responses. • QUAIDS is too restrictive compared to the more flexible EASI demand system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The car is one of the most expensive household consumer goods, yet there is a limited understanding of its private (internal) and social (external) cost per vehicle-km, year, or lifetime of driving. This paper provides an overview of 23 private and ten social cost items, and assesses these for three popular car models in Germany for the year 2020. Results confirm that motorists underestimate the full private costs of car ownership, while policy makers and planners underestimate social costs. For the typical German travel distance of 15,000 car kilometers per year, the total lifetime cost of car ownership (50 years) ranges between €599,082 for an Opel Corsa to €956,798 for a Mercedes GLC. The share of this cost born by society is 41% (€4674 per year) for the Opel Corsa, and 29% (€5273 per year) for the Mercedes GLC. Findings suggest that for low-income groups, private car ownership can represent a cost equal to housing, consuming a large share of disposable income. This creates complexities in perceptions of transport costs, the economic viability of alternative transport modes, or the justification of taxes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on data of more than 3700 citizens in Germany, this paper empirically examines the relevance of several groups of explanatory factors for electricity consumption. Besides controlling for individual housing and dwelling characteristics as well as socio-demographics, we analyze the effect of environmentally-related values and norms. Since behavioral economics reveals the importance of economic preferences for many individual activities, we additionally consider time and risk preferences, altruism, trust, and reciprocity in our econometric analysis. With respect to the latter factors, only patience has a significantly negative effect on electricity consumption. Instead, our estimation results suggest a high relevance of several individual housing and dwelling characteristics and socio-demographics. The most interesting result is probably that neither environmentally-related values such as ecological policy identification and environmental awareness nor environmentally-related personal and social norms have a significant effect. In contrast to the USA and to the demand for green electricity in Germany, these estimation results suggest that citizens with strong environmentally-related values and norms in Germany do not consider low electricity consumption as an important direction for environmental and climate protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nature-based recreation presents a key ecosystem service that people derive from landscapes. While numerous studies exist on the valuation of nature-based recreation for specific sites or regions, scientific knowledge gaps remain regarding the economic significance of nature-based recreation at national levels. This study aims to quantify the volume and economic significance of nature-based recreation in Germany, with a focus on leisure activities and weekend recreation. Our objective are to assess (i) motivations, time allocation and travel costs, (ii) frequencies and participation numbers, and (iii) economic significances. The research design includes a representative survey and descriptive statistics. Our results show that 81% of respondents participated in nature-based recreation within year before the survey, while the rest stated no participation. The average frequency was 63 leisure activities, 29 day-trips and seven short overnight trips. 'Experiencing nature' was the most frequently mentioned trip motivation. The extrapolated total participation volume in nature-based recreation amounts to 3.3 billiontrips and 16.6 billion hours. The economic significance is€ 151.3 billion, including travel costs, on-site expenses, and opportunity costs. Our study presents novel insights on the significance of NBR in Germany, and can support planning and policy making to safeguard and enhance landscape quality for recreational purposes. • Paper assesses volume, value and characteristics of nature-based recreation (NBR). • Volume of NBR trips per year in Germany found to be 3.3 bn. • Time spent on NBR trips is 16.6 bn hours or 3.4% of citizens' annual time budget. • Estimated NBR value in Germany is € 151.3 bn, incl. € 44.2 bn of tangible expenses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, several studies have identified price premiums for wild seafood certified as sustainably produced. Even though more than half of seafood for human consumption originates from aquaculture, not much attention has been given to consumer preferences for sustainability certified farmed fish, and to the implied price premiums for such products. This is the first paper to use market data to investigate the presence of price premiums in association with an ecolabel for farmed seafood, namely the label of the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC). Using hedonic price analysis, we look at premiums related to the three most consumed farmed whitefish species in Germany: rainbow trout, pangasius, and tilapia. Our results show that there exist price premiums for ASC-certified whitefish on the German market, which vary by species. Moreover, the magnitudes of the price premiums for ASC-certified products vary by retailer and brand and are negatively correlated with their price level. • This is the first study, that investigates price premiums for sustainable labeled farmed seafood. • We find evidence for price premiums for ASC-certified whitefish on the German market. • The premiums vary by species, retailer and brand. • Moreover, we detect a negative correlation between the retailer's price and the premium for the ecolabel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]