Jack Ryan

Interesting paper in Nature Energy suggesting emissions reductions could come from targeting high-level energy users and we could even increase energy use of low energy users in poverty with negligible impact on emissions.

Takeaway is that high-energy users (often w high income) might need to accept energy use restrictions if we're to hit climate targets. Based on studying 27 countries in Europe.

Also conducted workshops and found a general support for limiting "luxury" energy use and discouraging or banning extensive business travel or family flights for holidays beyond one or two per year.

Full paper here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41560-023-01283-y
#climate

Emissions savings from equitable energy demand reduction - Nature Energy

Emissions impacts of equitable energy demand reduction approaches are not well understood. A new study finds that capping energy use among top-quintile consumers in Europe achieves considerable emissions reductions.

Nature
Jul 17, 2023 at 11:27pmWeb
Show threadJack RyanJul 17, 2023
Reckon @AfterClimate might have a good angle on this, too. Go follow that genius.
Show threadBen Abraham || AfterClimateJul 18, 2023
@dctrjack woah! This looks wild!
Show threadspidey Jul 18, 2023
@dctrjack something I learned all the way back in my high school envi sci class was that in regards to energy use and subsequent emissions, the population of affluent people in developed countries is more of an issue than the population of impoverished/less affluent people in developing countries, even if the amount of the later population is greater than the former. Good to see that continue to be backed up and the paper directly mention restrictions on high-level energy consumers.
Show threadeena meena meJul 18, 2023
@dctrjack turn off all ACs and see where that gets us.
Show threadTomJul 19, 2023

@dctrjack These conclusions are quite similar to those from this compelling Nature Communications paper which appeared in June 2020:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-16941-y

(It argues based on global datasets that energy transition and "green tech" won't substantially reduce carbon emissions in affluent countries due to their steady corresponding increase in per capita consumption)

#Climate #ClimateChange #Emissions #EnergyTransition #GreenTechnology #Politics #Inequality

Scientists’ warning on affluence - Nature Communications

Current environmental impact mitigation neglects over-consumption from affluent citizens as a primary driver. The authors highlight the role of bottom-up movements to overcome structural economic growth imperatives spurring consumption by changing structures and culture towards safe and just systems.

Nature
Show threadpunkoJul 19, 2023
@dctrjack I’m gonna go out on a limb and assume the Rich People aren’t agreeing to change their lifestyle; am I right? … /s.