Scaling Up Ecovillagers’ Lifestyles Can Help to Decarbonise Europe

Abstract

Decarbonisation is an essential response to the threat of climate change. To achieve Europe’s net-zero 2050 climate targets, radical technological and social changes are required. Lifestyle changes for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are an important component of complex systemic transformation. The typical behaviour of inhabitants in ecovillages is potentially more conducive to sustainable lifestyles than the current European standard lifestyle. This study explores the potential of ecovillagers' lifestyles to contribute to decarbonisation using the Multilevel Perspective (MLP) theoretical framework. The research data were obtained through the model tool EUCalc and an online survey of 73 ecovillage residents in 24 European countries. The results indicate that current ecovillagers’ lifestyles, regarding home, consumption, diet, and mobility, would continue to produce 40% fewer emissions per capita than the standard European lifestyle by 2050. The study identifies which ecovillage behaviours would produce the largest reductions in per-capita CO2eq emissions if adopted by society more broadly.

Zero carbon transitions: a systematic review of the research landscape and climate mitigation potential

“…Grid emission factors decrease from 0.514 kg CO 2 eq/ KWh in 2020 to 0.151 CO 2 eq/KWh in 2050, resulting in grid hydrogen emissions falling to 7 kg CO 2 eq/kg H 2 in 2050, versus the 10 kg CO 2 eq/kg H 2 of SMR hydrogen. Inal, Zincir and Deniz (2022) state similar findings globally, with hydrogen via wind and solar electrolysis currently emitting far less than that produced using grid electricity.…”

“…These are the continuity of its supply, making it suitable for providing zerocarbon baseload generation, and the ability to store and rapidly dispatch energy in load-balancing applications as pumped storage hydropower (PSH). Aghahosseini et al (2018) assess PSH potential in designing a 100% renewable energy system for Iran, as do Gulagi et al (2018) for India, and Wang et al (2022) for China's Sichuan Province. Gaeta et al (2021) conclude that a total of 17 GW of PSH capacity could be developed in Italy by 2050 (compared to battery capacity of 28-38 GW), while Handayani et al (2022) 2016) demonstrate the load-balancing role of hydropower in an hourly simulation of a zero-carbon energy system for Southeast Europe.…”

“…The global assessments (Dooley et al, 2022;Matthews et al, 2022) found significant potential, with NBS' capable of sequestering approximately 2 and 3 years' worth of global annual CO 2 emissions (2020 levels) by 2050 and 2100 respectively-though in the Matthews et al study, this is returned to the atmosphere in the latter half of the century. In the UK, Yumashev et al (2022) estimate that a year's worth of 2020-level CO 2 e could be sequestered by 2100, with Bradfer-Lawrence et al (2022) going further, estimating 3 years' worth of CO 2 e sequestration by the end of the century.…”

“…The trade-off between reforestation and the need to meet growing food demand is also highlighted. As with many of the other mitigation options reviewed, cost presents another barrier-Dooley et al (2022) estimates a potential tripling of investment in NBS' necessary by 2030, while Costa et al (2021) state that only around 50% of the mitigation potential of existing agriculture-related solutions are cost-effective today.…”

“…This is not to say that supply-side options are not considered at smaller scales, however. Kobashi et al (2020a) analyse the potential for city-scale deployment of solar photovoltaics (PV) in Kyoto, for example, while the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority's "Pathway to Net Zero" report (2022) cites tidal power developments along the River Mersey as a major contributor. Likewise, demand-side options, such as EVs, can be observed in strategies ranging from a global scale (IEA, 2020) down to a city scale (Pamucar et al, 2021).…”