6 results
Search Results
2. The bare necessities: How much household carbon do we really need?
- Author
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Druckman, Angela and Jackson, Tim
- Subjects
- *
CONSUMPTION (Economics) , *HOUSEHOLDS , *GREENHOUSE gases , *ECOLOGICAL impact , *GREENHOUSE gas mitigation , *ECOLOGICAL economics , *MATHEMATICAL models , *INCOME ,ENVIRONMENTAL aspects - Abstract
The consumption patterns of Western nations are generally deemed to be unsustainable. Yet there is little attempt to restrain either material throughput or income growth. Nonetheless, in the face of the need to make ‘deep’ cuts in carbon emissions (for instance), consumption restraint may be a perfectly legitimate response. This paper explores the potential for a Reduced Consumption Scenario in the UK constructed by assuming that households achieve a specific ‘minimum income standard’ which is deemed to provide a decent life for each household type. The minimum income standards are taken from a recent study for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and include not only subsistence commodities such as food, warmth and shelter but also the means to participate effectively in society. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation study produced detailed household expenditure budgets for these income standards. The paper uses an environmentally extended Quasi-Multi-Regional Input–Output model to estimate the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions required in the production and distribution of all goods and services purchased according to these budgets. Our results show that average household GHG emissions in the UK would be around 37% lower in the Reduced Consumption Scenario than they are currently. We explore several implications of these findings including: the need to change social norms around consumption, the need for investment to improve the thermal performance of homes and the need to develop new transport infrastructures. We also address the potential to reduce emissions below the level achieved in this Scenario and discuss the implications for policy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Published
- 2010
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
3. The added value from a general equilibrium analysis of increased efficiency in household energy use.
- Author
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Lecca, Patrizio, McGregor, Peter G., Swales, J. Kim, and Turner, Karen
- Subjects
- *
ECONOMIC equilibrium , *ENERGY consumption & economics , *HOUSEHOLDS , *TOTAL energy systems (On-site electric power production) , *SIMULATION methods & models , *ENDOGENEITY (Econometrics) - Abstract
Abstract: This paper investigates the economic impact of a 5% improvement in the UK household energy efficiency, focussing specifically on total energy rebound effects. The impact is measured through simulations using models that have increasing degrees of endogeneity but are calibrated on a common data set, moving from a basic partial equilibrium approach to a fully specified general equilibrium treatment. The size of the rebound effect is shown to depend on changes in household income, aggregate economic activity and relative prices that can only be captured through a general equilibrium model. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Published
- 2014
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
4. Who emits most? Associations between socio-economic factors and UK households' home energy, transport, indirect and total CO2 emissions.
- Author
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Büchs, Milena and Schnepf, Sylke V.
- Subjects
- *
SOCIOECONOMIC factors , *HOUSEHOLDS , *HOME energy use , *TRANSPORTATION , *CARBON dioxide & the environment , *CARBON dioxide mitigation , *CONSUMPTION (Economics) - Abstract
Abstract: Does the association between household characteristics and household CO2 emissions differ for areas such as home energy, transport and indirect emissions? This question is policy relevant because distributional implications of mitigation policies may vary depending on the area of emissions that is targeted if specific types of households are likely to have higher emissions in some areas than in others. So far, this issue has not been examined in depth in the literature on household CO2 emissions. Using a representative UK expenditure survey, this paper compares how household characteristics like income, household size, education, gender, worklessness and rural or urban location differ in their association with all three areas as well as total emissions. We find that these associations vary considerably across emission domains. In particular, whilst all types of emissions rise with income, low income, workless and elderly households are more likely to have high emissions from home energy than from other domains, suggesting that they may be less affected by carbon taxes on transport or total emissions. This demonstrates that fairness implications related to mitigation policies need to be examined for separate emission domains. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Published
- 2013
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
5. Explaining the variation in household recycling rates across the UK
- Author
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Abbott, Andrew, Nandeibam, Shasikanta, and O'Shea, Lucy
- Subjects
- *
HOUSEHOLDS , *WASTE recycling , *WASTE products , *REFUSE collection , *DATA analysis - Abstract
Household waste recycling rates vary significantly both across and within regions of the UK. This paper attempts to explain the variation by using a new data set of waste recycling rates and policy determinants for all of the UK's 434 local authorities over the period 2006Q2 to 2008Q4. Our results suggest that the method of recycling collection chosen by policy makers is an important factor influencing the recycling rate. We also find an inverse relationship between the frequency of the residual waste collection and the recycling rate. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Published
- 2011
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
6. The carbon footprint of UK households 1990–2004: A socio-economically disaggregated, quasi-multi-regional input–output model
- Author
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Druckman, Angela and Jackson, Tim
- Subjects
- *
ECOLOGICAL impact , *SOCIOECONOMICS , *CARBON dioxide mitigation , *ATMOSPHERIC carbon dioxide , *MATHEMATICAL decoupling , *CONSUMPTION (Economics) , *MATHEMATICAL models - Abstract
This paper presents a socio-economically disaggregated framework for attributing CO2 emissions to people's high level functional needs. Based around a quasi-multi-regional input–output (QMRIO) model, the study, in theory, takes into account all CO2 emissions that arise from energy used in production of goods and services to satisfy UK household demand, whether the emissions occur in the UK or abroad. Results show that CO2 emissions attributable to households were 15% above 1990 levels in 2004, and that although absolute decoupling occurred between household expenditure and CO2 during the UK's switch from coal to gas in the early 1990s, since then only slight relative decoupling is evident. The proportion of CO2 that arises outside UK borders in support of UK consumption is rising, and reducing these emissions is particularly problematic in a global trading system. Investigation into the carbon footprint of different segments of the UK population shows wide variation: the segment with the highest carbon footprint emits 64% more CO2 than the segment with the lowest. Results show that recreation and leisure are responsible for over one quarter of CO2 emissions in a typical UK household in 2004. We conclude that expanding lifestyle aspirations are significant factors in driving household CO2 emissions, but the study also emphasizes that attention must be paid to the infrastructures and institutions that result in considerable amounts of CO2 being locked up in basic household activities through which people meet their everyday needs for subsistence, protection, and communication with family and friends. The findings highlight the sheer scale of the challenge facing UK policy-makers, and suggest that policies should be targeted towards segments of society responsible for the highest carbon footprints. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Published
- 2009
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
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