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Consumption-oriented policy instruments for fostering greenhouse gas mitigation

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  • Grubb, Michael
  • Crawford-Brown, Doug
  • Neuhoff, Karsten
  • Schanes, Karin
  • Hawkins, Sonja
  • Poncia, Alexandra

Abstract

Most policy instruments to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have focused on producers, and on the energy efficiency of buildings, vehicles and other products. Behavioural changes related to climate change also impact ‘in-use’ emissions, and potentially, emissions both ‘upstream’ (including from imported goods) and ‘downstream’ (eg disposal). Consumption-oriented policies may provide avenues to additional and cost-effective emission reductions, but are less prevalent, in part because of political sensitivities around government efforts to shape individual-level mitigation behaviour. In this paper, we explore policy instruments for encouraging low carbon behaviour in the EU context. Drawing on a literature survey and interviews, as part of the EU Carbon-CAP project, we develop a list of 33 potential instruments, present a systematic methodology for assessing their potential impact and feasibility, and apply this to rank instruments of most interest. Most instruments involve a clear trade-off between their potential impact and feasibility; about half feature in the top three scoring categories, many being voluntary approaches, which may be easier to implement, but with limited or highly uncertain impact. However, we identify a handful of top-scoring instruments that deserve far more policy attention. The complexity of consumer and corporate motivations and behaviours suggests that instruments should be trialled and monitored (e.g. in regions / individual States) before widespread introduction. Most would also be most effective when nested within wider policy packages, to address the varied behavioural motivations and stages of supply chains.

Suggested Citation

  • Grubb, Michael & Crawford-Brown, Doug & Neuhoff, Karsten & Schanes, Karin & Hawkins, Sonja & Poncia, Alexandra, 2020. "Consumption-oriented policy instruments for fostering greenhouse gas mitigation," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 20(sup1), pages 58-73.
  • Handle: RePEc:zbw:espost:222462
    DOI: 10.1080/14693062.2020.1730151
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Annika Carlsson Kanyama & Jonas Nässén & René Benders, 2021. "Shifting expenditure on food, holidays, and furnishings could lower greenhouse gas emissions by almost 40%," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 25(6), pages 1602-1616, December.
    3. Samantha Linton & Amelia Clarke & Laura Tozer, 2020. "Strategies and Governance for Implementing Deep Decarbonization Plans at the Local Level," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-21, December.
    4. Zahid Hussain & Bihizi Marcel & Abdul Majeed & Raymondo Sandra Marcelline Tsimisaraka, 2024. "Effects of transport–carbon intensity, transportation, and economic complexity on environmental and health expenditures," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(7), pages 16523-16553, July.
    5. Anderson, Brilé & Cammeraat, Emile & Dechezleprêtre, Antoine & Dressler, Luisa & Gonne, Nicolas & Lalanne, Guy & Martins Guilhoto, Joaquim & Theodoropoulos, Konstantinos, 2023. "Designing policy packages for a climate-neutral industry: A case study from the Netherlands," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).

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