Summary
This paper examines the role of household consumption behaviour in achieving climate targets, drawing on the HOPE research project's investigation of household preferences across four European cities. The authors argue that whilst households are responsible for 72% of global greenhouse gas emissions, current climate policies inadequately prioritise household-level behavioural change and misalign with household perceptions of responsibility. The paper concludes that regulatory frameworks combined with voluntary efforts are necessary to achieve the drastic emissions reductions required for the 1.5 °C Paris Agreement goal.
UK applicability
The findings from France, Germany, Norway and Sweden are likely partially applicable to the United Kingdom as a high-income European country, particularly regarding the dominance of transport, food and heating in household carbon footprints. However, UK-specific research would be needed to assess how household living situations, local policy contexts, and regional infrastructure differences affect emissions reduction potential in British households.
Key measures
Household greenhouse gas emissions by consumption category; household carbon footprint reduction potential; household perception of climate responsibility; comparison of emissions across four European cities
Outcomes reported
The study identified that car and plane mobility, meat and dairy consumption, and heating are the most dominant components of household carbon footprints in European high-income countries. It examined how household living situations, demographics, and regulatory frameworks influence the potential for households to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
Topic tags
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