Personal Carbon Trading (PCT) has been put forward as a potentially powerful instrument with which to bring about reductions in carbon emissions inthe areas of domestic energy consumption and personal transport. Very fewresearchers have even begun to examine and quantify the likely behavioural response to such "carbon permit" systems through social survey methods. The main aim in this study is to identify the behaviours likely to be affected and the potential magnitude of change. This is highly exploratory work in addressing both transport and domestic energy emissions in terms of behavioural response to personal carbon trading (PCT) and a carbon tax (CT). Firstly the design challenges are addressed followed by the implementation of the survey. The next sections explore respondents' carbon footprints, perceived ability to change and current energy saving behaviours. Overall around 60% of respondents in the Cardiff survey were over the 4 tonne allowance and 40% under. Most respondents felt their carbon footprint was asexpected or higher than expected, with only 20% saying it was lower than expected. Transport and domestic energy accounted for 40% of carbon footprint each and appliances the remaining 20%. Respondents clearly saw carbon reductions as being more difficult to achieve in their transport use than in other areas. For those for whom it was relevant, cutting short and longhaul flights was a particularly unattractive option. Most respondents report that they are already saving energy in the home. The most popular actions already undertaken and where there is a willingness to adopt are "win win" where energy is saved without a reduction in comfort. The least popular actions relate to energy investments, especially where the technology is unfamiliar and expensive. Respondents facing CT were more likely to state their intention to reduce than those facing a PCT. There does appear to be some evidence, from this study and other research that there may be an upper limit of around 20% emissions reduction from the changes people are willing and able to make in order to reduce emissions from transport and domestic energy. There may be policy implications here, as to how much people can be expected to do in the absence of significant supportive measures. For the covering abstract see ITRD E145999
Abstract