Households’ Behaviour and Environmental Emissions in a Regional Economy

Abstract

Households have significant demand-side potential to drive reductions in atmospheric emissions, including both direct and indirect emissions. Our analysis focuses on the behaviour of a regional economy (Aragon, Spain) and its impact on greenhouse gases (GHG) and sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ). Using a CGE model, we simulate scenarios and evaluate the environmental impact of adopting changes considered in the Aragonese Climate Change and Clean Energy Strategy. Specifically, we analyse the impact of electricity savings and the promotion of public transport (bus or train) versus private car use. The results indicate that 1 MWh of saving in electricity consumption by households could reduce emissions of GHG by 0.112 kt of equivalent CO 2 and 8.209 kg of SO 2 with a shift in demand preferences and 0.022 kt of equivalent CO 2 and 7.612 kg of SO 2 with an efficiency improvement. Moreover, household changes in demand preferences regarding private/public transport, also contribute to reduce emissions.

Understanding the Evolution of Sustainable Consumption Research

“…space heating, electricity) and indirect household energy consumption (i.e. energy required for the production, distribution and disposal of all goods and services delivered to consumers except direct energy expenditures) (Duarte et al, ). In order to devise sustainable consumption patterns, researchers began to pay greater attention to understanding the empirical links between people's lifestyles and the associated energy consumption and carbon emissions (Jackson, ).…”

Relationships between parents’ academic backgrounds and incomes and building students’ healthy eating habits

“…A Lithunian COSI study investigated the relationship between parental income, education level and children eating habit in which they found the significant impact of parents’ higher education and income on their daily breakfast and fresh fruit consumption ( Petrauskienė, Žaltauskė & Albavičiūtė, 2015 ). Other studies also reported family income factor linked with higher intake of fruit and vegetables among children ( Deshmukh-Taskar et al, 2010 ; Timlin et al, 2008 ; Duarte et al, 2014 ). A recent international study among 4752 children of 12 countries (Age 9–11) has found the positive association in some countries and negative association in some other countries between parental education and children’s overweight and physical activity ( Muthuri et al, 2016 ).…”

Environmental Footprints and Scenario Analysis for Assessing the Impacts of the Agri‐Food Industry on a Regional Economy: A Case Study in Spain

“…2 As commented on above, CGE models offer a more flexible approach to modeling both supply and demand behavior and allows for the study of how both prices and quantities may change in response to a change in activity. More specifically, we develop a model that attempts to faithfully represent the regional economic reality of Aragon, empirically synthesized in a SAM for 2008 Aragon (SAMA-08), our primary base for calibration (Duarte et al 2014). The model distinguishes 44 sectors, taking special interest in the agricultural sector (which is disaggregated into 11 sectors) and the food industry (also disaggregated into 11 sectors).…”

“…Turner and colleagues () show the potential added value of CGE modeling techniques. Thus, whereas I‐O models have been revealed as a powerful approach to analyzing global, national, and regional environmental issues, CGE modeling allows us to more properly capture how the economy adjusts to a marginal change in the behavior of economic agents (see, e.g., Turner et al ; Duarte et al ). One of our main contributions is using these complementary approaches to tackle the connections between regional and rural developing policies from an environmental perspective.…”