Explaining the variation in greenhouse gas emissions between households: socio-economic, motivational and physical factors

Nässén, J., Andersson, D., Larsson, J., & Holmberg, J. (2014). Explaining the Variation in Greenhouse Gas Emissions Between Households: Socioeconomic, Motivational, and Physical Factors. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 19(3), 480–489. doi:10.1111/jiec.12168

Platform
Gothenburg
Publication type
Scientific article (peer-reviewed)
Projects
WISE Well-being in Sustainable cities
DOI Title
Explaining the Variation in Greenhouse Gas Emissions Between Households: Socioeconomic, Motivational, and Physical Factors
Journal
Journal of Industrial Ecology
ISSN/ISBN
1088-1980
DOI
10.1111/jiec.12168
Author(s)
Jonas Nässén David Andersson Jörgen Larsson John Holmberg
Published year
Subject
General Social Sciences General Environmental Science

 

Abstract

Consumption-accounted greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (GHGEs) vary considerably between households. Research originating from different traditions, including consumption research, urban planning, and environmental psychology, have studied different types of explanatory variables and provided different insights into this matter. This study integrates explanatory variables from different fields of research in the same empirical material, including socioeconomic variables (income, household size, sex, and age), motivational variables (proenvironmental attitudes and social norms), and physical variables (dwelling types and geographical distances). A survey was distributed to 2,500 Swedish households with a response rate of 40%. GHGEs were estimated for transport, residential energy, food, and other consumption, using data from both the survey and registers, such as odometer readings of cars and electricity consumption from utility providers. The results point toward the importance of explanatory variables that have to do with circumstances rather than motivations for proenvironmental behaviors. Net income was found to be the most important variable to explain GHGEs, followed by the physical variables, dwelling type, and the geographical distance index. The results also indicate that social norms around GHG-intensive activities, for example, transport, may have a larger impact on a subject's emission level than proenvironmental attitudes.

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