Personal carbon allowances revisited

Abstract

Here we discuss how personal carbon allowances (PCAs) could play a role in achieving ambitious climate mitigation targets. We argue that recent advances in AI for sustainable development, together with the need for a low-carbon recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, open a new window of opportunity for PCAs. Furthermore, we present design principles based on the Sustainable Development Goals for the future adoption of PCAs. We conclude that PCAs could be trialled in selected climate-conscious technologically advanced countries, mindful of potential issues around integration into the current policy mix, privacy concerns and distributional impacts.

Implications of COVID-19 for Climate Governance in China: The Rise of an Eco-Surveillance State?

“…Those who are less pessimistic about the future climate are likely to be more concerned about the socio-political impact of surveillance. Perhaps the real debate is on how to balance, or even resolve, the tension between the urgency of climate action and concerns, such as privacy protection and liberty, and ensuring public participation in the decision-making process [73]. Transitioning away from carbon-intensive growth is urgently needed, but it is also important to do so in a just and socially acceptable manner [74][75][76][77].…”

“…Furthermore, surveillance technologies developed to fight COVID-19, especially contact tracing, can provide useful information on how to estimate emissions by tracking movement history. Indirect emissions from food and other consumption can also be estimated using mobile apps to capture personal travel history, dietary behaviors, and purchasing habits, which can then be used to estimate carbon emissions [73]. Therefore, surveillance technologies for PCA are developing rapidly.…”

How Does Personalized Feedback on Carbon Emissions Impact Intended Climate Action?

“…Including carbon calculators with personalized feedback in high school science lessons about climate change would be an effective next step to help address the shortcomings in current curricula where high-impact actions are often ignored (9). Governments could also use this tool as part of a national climate plan to inform citizens about personal mitigation actions while simultaneously soliciting input about the necessary infrastructure and policies to support these changes (65). Although carbon calculators do not present a panacea for climate change, they could empower individuals in the immediate future to reduce their personal emissions and help reach sustainability goals.…”

Effects of Sustainability Policy – Evaluating Social Consequences of Carbon Targets using Trip Completion Rates

“…In a PCA scheme, individuals would initially be allotted a free [3], and a limited number of allowances for emitting emissions which would later be surrendered when purchasing energy for travelling or domestic use [4]. PCAs are designed to deliver emission reductions by altering a population's economical behaviour, cognitive awareness, and social norms [2]. PCAs were once considered a policy measure ahead of their time.…”

“…Introduction Research has shown that delivering on the goal set in the Paris agreement defining the 1.5-degree global temperature scenario may not be feasible with current measures [1,2]. To combat the worsening condition of the climate, the implementation of more stringent carbon management strategies on a large scale has been suggested [2]. One such proposed strategy is that of personal carbon allowances (PCA).…”