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Revisiting the promise of carbon labelling

Author

Listed:
  • Khan M. R. Taufique

    (Oxford Brookes University
    Curtin University)

  • Kristian S. Nielsen

    (University of Cambridge)

  • Thomas Dietz

    (Michigan State University
    Michigan State University
    University of Vermont)

  • Rachael Shwom

    (Rutgers University)

  • Paul C. Stern

    (Social and Environmental Research Institute)

  • Michael P. Vandenbergh

    (Vanderbilt University)

Abstract

Carbon labelling systems can inform individual and organizational choices, which potentially reduce the carbon footprints of goods and services. We review the ways labelling is conceptualized and operationalized, and the available evidence on effectiveness. The literature focuses mainly on how labelling affects retail consumer behaviour, but much less on how labelling affects the behaviour of the organizations that produce, transport and sell products despite preliminary research suggesting that the effects on corporate behaviour may be substantial even without strong consumer responses. We consider key challenges for carbon labelling systems related to standard setting, data collection and use, and label design. We summarize the available knowledge, identify key research questions and identify steps towards achieving the promise of carbon labelling.

Suggested Citation

  • Khan M. R. Taufique & Kristian S. Nielsen & Thomas Dietz & Rachael Shwom & Paul C. Stern & Michael P. Vandenbergh, 2022. "Revisiting the promise of carbon labelling," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 12(2), pages 132-140, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:12:y:2022:i:2:d:10.1038_s41558-021-01271-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-021-01271-8
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    Cited by:

    1. Amrita Goldar & Diya Dasgupta, 2023. "Beyond the Stocktake (Part II): Clean Energy Technologies," Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) Policy Paper 14, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), New Delhi, India.
    2. Schleich, Joachim & Alsheimer, Sven, 2024. "The relationship between willingness to pay and carbon footprint knowledge: Are individuals willing to pay more to offset their carbon footprint if they learn about its size and distance to the 1.5 °C," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 219(C).
    3. Kumar, Tharun Roshan & Beiron, Johanna & Biermann, Maximilian & Harvey, Simon & Thunman, Henrik, 2023. "Plant and system-level performance of combined heat and power plants equipped with different carbon capture technologies," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 338(C).
    4. John Wang & Jeffrey Hsu & Yang Li & Vicky Ching Gu, 2023. "Confronting Current Crises and Critical Challenges of Climate Change," International Journal of Sociotechnology and Knowledge Development (IJSKD), IGI Global, vol. 15(1), pages 1-17, January.
    5. Koen Deconinck & Marion Jansen & Carla Barisone, 2023. "Fast and furious: the rise of environmental impact reporting in food systems," European Review of Agricultural Economics, Oxford University Press and the European Agricultural and Applied Economics Publications Foundation, vol. 50(4), pages 1310-1337.
    6. Małgorzata Holka & Jolanta Kowalska & Magdalena Jakubowska, 2022. "Reducing Carbon Footprint of Agriculture—Can Organic Farming Help to Mitigate Climate Change?," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-21, September.
    7. Lohmann, Paul M. & Gsottbauer, Elisabeth & Doherty, Anya & Kontoleon, Andreas, 2022. "Do carbon footprint labels promote climatarian diets? Evidence from a large-scale field experiment," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).

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