TITLE:
Living on a Carbon Diet
AUTHORS:
Ghislain Dubois
KEYWORDS:
Climate Change, Mitigation, Individual, Consumption, Carbon Footprint
JOURNAL NAME:
Low Carbon Economy,
Vol.6 No.1,
February
28,
2015
ABSTRACT: The objectives of this paper are to understand the features of simulated
low carbon lifestyles under strong greenhouse gas emissions reduction
assumptions (20%, 50%), the nature of trade-offs and the hierarchy of choices
operated by households within a limited carbon and financial carbon budget, the
acceptability of important changes in consumption patterns, and finally the values
and representations, benefits and losses that households express in such
changes. The research implemented a protocol combining experimental economy
(simulation of carbon budget reductions under financial constraints) and
anthropology (semi-structured interviews, to understand the rationale behind
choices). Each household of the sample (n = 30) was investigated for 2 - 3
days. Firstly, a very detailed carbon footprint of the household was
calculated. Then households were proposed a list of 65 pre-defined solutions
covering most of available mitigation options, with financial and carbon cost
and savings calculated for their real situation. The sample reached an average of -37% (-12%/-64%), with a preference to act on habitat and food and a reluctance
to change transport consumption. Due to the amount of reductions asked, low
carbon lifestyles finally impact comfort but allow saving money.
Recommendations for policies are presented.