RESOLVE conference 18th June 2009
New Connaught Rooms, London WC2B 5DA
The bare necessities:
how much household carbon do we really need ?
Angela Druckman and Tim Jackson
RESOLVE
University of Surrey
The “Good Life”?
• Western consumption patterns are unsustainable, both in
terms of the resources they require and the emissions
they generate;
• % UK citizens reporting themselves ‘very happy’ declined
from 52% in 1957 to 36% today (Jackson 2009);
• Rates of stress and depression are increasing (de Botton
2004);
• The high levels of inequality in UK society are detrimental
to well-being (Wilkinson and Pickett 2009).
Reduced Consumption Scenario
• What consumption is necessary for an
acceptable standard of life in the UK?
• What level of GHG emissions are required to
support an acceptable standard of living in
the UK?
Basis for today’s study:
Joseph Rowntree Foundation publication
“A minimum standard of living in Britain
today includes, but is more than just,
food, clothes and shelter. It is about
having what you need in order to have
the opportunities and choices necessary
to participate in society.”
Bradshaw et al (2008). A minimum income standard for Britain: what people think”.
http://www.jrf.org.uk/sites/files/jrf/2226-income-poverty-standards.pdf
JRF budgets:
weekly alcohol
budget for a
couple with one
child
Comparison with current expenditure:
Pensioner couple
Comparison with current expenditure:
Lone parent + 1 child
Reduced Consumption Scenario
• Based on expenditure budgets for eleven types of
households from JRF study;
SELMA: The Surrey Lifestyle MApping Framework
estimates GHG emissions that arise in the production
and distribution of goods and services in JRF household
budgets.
Environmental Input-Output model;
• Assume all households comply with the budgets.
GHGs attributed to each type of household
35
Miscellaneous goods & services
30
25
Restaurants & hotels
Education
Recreation & culture
20
15
Communication
Other transport
Personal transport fuels
10
5
0
Si
ng
le
C
pe
ou
ns
pl
io
e
ne
Pe
Si
r
ng
ns
le
io
ne
w
C
or
rs
ou
k
in
pl
g
e
Si
ag
ng wor
e
k
le
Si
in
ng
pa
g
ag
re
le
e
nt
p
ar
,1
Si
en
ng
ch
t,
le
il d
2
pa
c
hi
r
C
ld
ou ent
re
,
p
C
ou l e p 3 c h n
pl
ar
i
e
en l dre
pa
C
ts
n
ou
re
,1
nt
pl
ch
s,
e
il
pa
2
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ch d
ou
re
nt
il d
pl
s,
e
re
pa
n
3
ch
re
nt
il d
s,
re
n
4
ch
il d
re
n
GHG per household per annum (tCO2-e)
40
Health
Household goods & services
Housing
Electricity, gas and other fuels
Clothing & footw ear
Alcoholic drinks, tobacco, narcotics
Food & non-alcoholic drink
GHGs in the Reduced Consumption Scenario
30
GHG per household per annum (tCO2-e)
Miscellaneous goods & services
25
Restaurants & hotels
38% reduction
20
Education
Recreation & culture
Communication
Other transport
Personal transport fuels
15
Health
Household goods & services
Housing
10
Electricity, gas and other fuels
Clothing & footw ear
Alcoholic drinks, tobacco, narcotics
5
Food & non-alcoholic drink
0
UK Mean 2004
Reduced ConsumptionScenario
GHGs due to direct
electricity, gas and
other fuels 45%
62% of GHG emissions for an average UK
household are embedded in goods and services
Picture: http://www.lakewoodconferences.com/direct/dbimage/50329235/Shopping_Bags.jpg
Role of material goods
Mark occasions
Warmth
Securi
ty
S
Belonging
Food
s
u
t
ta
Identity
r
e
n
t
r
a
p
e
f
i
l
r
fo
h
c
r
a
Se
Status
•
•
•
•
Shows of opulence;
Status is comparative;
Cause of anxiety;
Use of material goods
to demonstrate status
is a flawed
mechanism:
– net nil sum gain.
The Reduced Consumption Scenario
subsistence
needs
participation in
society
X “overconsumption”
? status goods
http://spplan.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/ebay1.jpg
2009
y
a
M
18
more
t
a
h
t
s are
n
g
i
s
the
The
n
i
y
a
t
g to s
n
i
o
g
re
this
s
y
a
d
of us a
i
ur hol
o
ious
r
v
o
e
f
r
p
K
U
than in
r
e
m
sum
.….”
years.
“...
16 M
ay 2
009
31 May 2009
“Me, me, me is past its sell-by date.
Our obsession with chasing more is
losing its grip as a growing number of
people turn to new values and simple
pursuits with friends and family...”
Changing
norms?
“...t
mo he rec
e
r
of r e peop ssion
epa
h
l
irin e to re as en
c
g cl
d
oth iscov ourag
e
es..
er t
he s d
..”
kill
Conclusion and policy implications
• The Reduced Consumption Scenario: indication of which
expenditures and associated GHG emissions should be protected;
• 38% reduction in GHG emissions achievable;
• Investment needed:
– Housing;
– Transport;
• Reduced levels of inequality could improve well-being;
• Changes in norms would be needed for public acceptability;
• Positive indications from the recession as an exemplar for a
constrained consumption future.
RESOLVE conference 18th June 2009
New Connaught Rooms, London WC2B 5DA
The bare necessities:
how much household carbon do we really need ?
Angela Druckman and Tim Jackson
RESOLVE
University of Surrey