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Ageing society in developed countries challenges carbon mitigation

Author

Listed:
  • Heran Zheng

    (Norwegian University of Science and Technology)

  • Yin Long

    (University of Tokyo)

  • Richard Wood

    (Norwegian University of Science and Technology)

  • Daniel Moran

    (Norwegian University of Science and Technology)

  • Zengkai Zhang

    (Tianjin University)

  • Jing Meng

    (University College London)

  • Kuishuang Feng

    (University of Maryland)

  • Edgar Hertwich

    (Norwegian University of Science and Technology)

  • Dabo Guan

    (University College London
    Tsinghua University)

Abstract

Populations in developed countries are ageing. However, the impact of senior citizens’ consumption on global carbon mitigation is poorly understood. Here we find that senior citizens have played a leading role in driving up GHG emissions in the past decade and are on the way to becoming the largest contributor. Considering the greenhouse gas footprint of household consumption across age groups in 32 developed countries, the senior contribution to national total consumption-based emissions increased from 25.2% to 32.7% between 2005 and 2015. Seniors in the United States and Australia have the highest per capita footprint, twice the Western average. The trend is mainly due to changes in expenditure patterns of seniors. The increasing carbon footprint of senior citizens will probably drive domestic production yet have limited effects on international carbon leakage. The demographic change poses more challenges in local mitigation and calls for deeper public mitigation efforts.

Suggested Citation

  • Heran Zheng & Yin Long & Richard Wood & Daniel Moran & Zengkai Zhang & Jing Meng & Kuishuang Feng & Edgar Hertwich & Dabo Guan, 2022. "Ageing society in developed countries challenges carbon mitigation," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 12(3), pages 241-248, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:12:y:2022:i:3:d:10.1038_s41558-022-01302-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-022-01302-y
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    Cited by:

    1. Yuru Guan & Jin Yan & Yuli Shan & Yannan Zhou & Ye Hang & Ruoqi Li & Yu Liu & Binyuan Liu & Qingyun Nie & Benedikt Bruckner & Kuishuang Feng & Klaus Hubacek, 2023. "Burden of the global energy price crisis on households," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 8(3), pages 304-316, March.
    2. Su Yang & Jie Shen & Hongyang Li & Beibei Zhang & Jinchao Ma & Baoquan Cheng, 2023. "Unraveling the U-Shaped Linkage: Population Aging and Carbon Efficiency in the Construction Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-15, September.
    3. Huang, Liqiao & Yoshida, Yoshikuni & Li, Yuan & Cheng, Nan & Xue, Jinjun & Long, Yin, 2024. "Sustainable lifestyle: Quantification and determining factors analysis of household carbon footprints in Japan," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).
    4. Zhou, Yang & Wang, Heng & Qiu, Huanguang, 2023. "Population aging reduces carbon emissions: Evidence from China's latest three censuses," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 351(C).
    5. Zhilong Pan & Zhibao Wang & Xin Cui, 2024. "New Interpretation of Human–Land Relation: Differentiated Impacts of Global Demographic Transition on Carbon Emissions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-15, June.
    6. Xu, Zhongwen & Huang, Liqiao & Liao, Maolin & Xue, Jinjun & Yoshida, Yoshikuni & Long, Yin, 2022. "Quantifying consumption-based carbon emissions of major economic sectors in Japan considering the global value chain," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 330-341.
    7. Lena Kilian & Anne Owen & Andy Newing & Diana Ivanova, 2022. "Exploring Transport Consumption-Based Emissions: Spatial Patterns, Social Factors, Well-Being, and Policy Implications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-26, September.
    8. Gao, Xue & Chen, Xuan & Liu, Lan-Cui, 2024. "Exploring the determinants of the evolution of urban and rural household carbon footprints inequality in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    9. Wu, Hongyue & Chang, Yuan & Chen, Yunfeng, 2024. "Greenhouse gas emissions under work from home vs. office: An activity-based individual-level accounting model," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 353(PB).
    10. Sun, Shuyu & Tong, Kangkang, 2024. "Rural-urban inequality in energy use sufficiency and efficiency during a rapid urbanization period," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 364(C).
    11. Tomohiro Tasaki & Hide-Fumi Yokoo & Ryo Tajima & Rintaro Yamaguchi, 2023. "Characteristics That Influence Individuals’ Intentions to Use and Bequeath Common Assets: Time-Perspective Scales and Demographic Attributes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-15, October.
    12. Dong, Kangyin & Ni, Guohua & Taghizadeh-Hesary, Farhad & Zhao, Congyu, 2023. "Does smart transportation matter in inhibiting carbon inequality?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    13. Wang, Zhen & Yan, Haoben & Gao, Xue & Liang, Qiaomei & Mi, Zhifu & Liu, Lancui, 2024. "Have consumption-based CO2 emissions in developed countries peaked?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    14. Ying Long & Jiahao Feng & Aolong Sun & Rui Wang & Yafei Wang, 2023. "Structural Characteristics of the Household Carbon Footprint in an Aging Society," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-18, August.
    15. Yongqiang Zhang & Quanyao Dong & Guifang Ma, 2023. "Effects of Rural Population Aging on Agricultural Carbon Emissions in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-16, April.
    16. Tantiwatthanaphanich, Thanapan & Shao, Xuan & Huang, Liqiao & Yoshida, Yoshikuni & Long, Yin, 2022. "Evaluating carbon footprint embodied in Japanese food consumption based on global supply chain," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 56-65.
    17. Fang Shen & Zibibula Simayi & Shengtian Yang & Yusuyunjiang Mamitimin & Xiaofen Zhang & Yunyi Zhang, 2023. "A Bibliometric Review of Household Carbon Footprint during 2000–2022," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-25, April.
    18. Ke Li & Lei Gao & Zhaoxia Guo & Yucheng Dong & Enayat A. Moallemi & Gang Kou & Meiqian Chen & Wenhao Lin & Qi Liu & Michael Obersteiner & Matteo Pedercini & Brett A. Bryan, 2024. "Safeguarding China’s long-term sustainability against systemic disruptors," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    19. Yu, Yan-Yan & Liang, Qiao-mei & Liu, Li-Jing, 2023. "Impact of population ageing on carbon emissions: A case of China's urban households," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 86-100.

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