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The impact of socioeconomic characteristics on CO2 emissions associated with urban mobility: Inequality across individuals

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  • Bel, Germà
  • Rosell, Jordi

Abstract

Concerns about the unequal distribution of greenhouse gas emissions attributable to mobility are gaining increasing attention in scholarly analyses as well as in the public policy arena. The factors influencing the emissions of individuals are largely undocumented, but they are assumed to be the same for all, be they low or high emitters. We use a household travel survey conducted in the metropolitan area of Barcelona to differentiate the factors that result in different rates of emission. It shows that the top 10% of emitters produce 49% of total emissions while ‘non-daily’ emitters make up 38.5% of the sample. We adopt a quantile regression approach, which reveals significant socioeconomic differences between groups of emitters. Gender, income and home-municipality type are influential in accounting for CO2 emissions for all groups. Educational level appears to be less significant, and occupation shows no significance at all. The study confirms the ineffective nature of toll policy design in the area. Overall, socioeconomic factors have different impacts on different emitting groups, but these characteristics do not impact equally across all the population. Quantile regression using mobility survey data gathered from various cities would provide useful evidence for improving the design of urban mobility policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Bel, Germà & Rosell, Jordi, 2017. "The impact of socioeconomic characteristics on CO2 emissions associated with urban mobility: Inequality across individuals," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 251-261.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eneeco:v:64:y:2017:i:c:p:251-261
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eneco.2017.04.002
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    2. Jie, Huo & Khan, Irfan & Alharthi, Majed & Zafar, Muhammad Wasif & Saeed, Asif, 2023. "Sustainable energy policy, socio-economic development, and ecological footprint: The economic significance of natural resources, population growth, and industrial development," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    3. Leroutier, Marion & Quirion, Philippe, 2022. "Air pollution and CO2 from daily mobility: Who emits and Why? Evidence from Paris," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    4. Dorothée Charlier & Bérangère Legendre, 2021. "Carbon Dioxide Emissions and Aging: Disentangling Behavior from Energy Efficiency," Post-Print hal-03877220, HAL.
    5. Leroutier, Marion & Quirion, Philippe, 2023. "Tackling Car Emissions in Urban Areas: Shift, Avoid, Improve," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 213(C).
    6. Dorothée Charlier & Bérangère Legendre, 2020. "Carbon Dioxide Emissions and aging: Disentangling behavior from energy efficiency," Working Papers 2020.13, FAERE - French Association of Environmental and Resource Economists.
    7. Jurjonas, Matthew & Aldana, Lesly, 2020. "The Flyer’s dilemma and the Logger’s case for climate justice," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 20(C).
    8. Irfan Khan & Fujun Hou, 2021. "The Impact of Socio-economic and Environmental Sustainability on CO2 Emissions: A Novel Framework for Thirty IEA Countries," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 155(3), pages 1045-1076, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Carbon dioxide emissions; Climate change mitigation policies; Quantile regression;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C31 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models; Quantile Regressions; Social Interaction Models
    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • Q01 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - General - - - Sustainable Development

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