scholarly journals Household Preferences to Reduce Their Greenhouse Gas Footprint: A Comparative Study from Four European Cities

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 4044 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bore Sköld ◽  
Marta Baltruszewicz ◽  
Carlo Aall ◽  
Camilla Andersson ◽  
Alina Herrmann ◽  
...  

This paper investigates households’ preferences to reduce their carbon footprint (CF) measured in carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e). It assumes that a substantial CF reduction of households is essential to reach the 1.5 °C goal under the Paris Agreement. Data was collected in four mid-size cities in France, Germany, Norway, and Sweden. Quantitative data was obtained from 308 households using a CF calculator based on a questionnaire, and a simulation game. The latter investigated households’ preferences when being confronted with the objective to reduce their CF by 50 percent by 2030 in a voluntary and forced scenario. Our results show that the greater the CO2e-reduction potential of a mitigation action, the less willing a household was to implement that action. Households preferred actions with moderate lifestyle changes foremost in the food sector. Voluntarily, households reached a 25% footprint reduction by 2030. To reach a substantial reduction of 50 percent, households needed to choose actions that meant considerable lifestyle changes, mainly related to mobility. Given our results, the 1.5 °C goal is unlikely to be realizable currently, unless households receive major policy support. Lastly, the strikingly similar preferences of households in the four European cities investigated seem to justify strong EU and international policies.

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rainer Sauerborn* ◽  
Carlo Aall ◽  
Maria Nilsson ◽  
Carine Barbier ◽  
Ghislain Dubois ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 761-789 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haoran Chu ◽  
Janet Z. Yang

Anchored by construal level theory and appraisal theories of emotion, this study examines whether discrete emotions vary along with perceived psychological distance of climate change impacts. We found that reduced psychological distance perception led to an increase in concrete emotions such as anger, fear, sadness, and guilt. In contrast, increased psychological distance perception led to an increase in hope—an abstract emotion. Compared to anger, anxiety, and hope, fear, guilt, and shame had more limited impact on climate mitigation action and policy support. Trait empathy moderated the effect of psychological distance manipulation on distance perception and emotions.


2006 ◽  
Vol 40 (10) ◽  
pp. 2
Author(s):  
MARY ANN MOON
Keyword(s):  

2011 ◽  
Vol 44 (17) ◽  
pp. 10-11
Author(s):  
MITCHEL L. ZOLER
Keyword(s):  

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