Breaking the links between Growth and
Environmental Impact
Sara Eppel
Head of Sustainable Products and Consumers
Defra
Summary
1. Impacts and policy context
2. Policy solutions: what’s on, what’s off
3. Current activity, future opportunities
4. Questions
Impact = Population x Affluence x Technology,
Not the whole story, but startling.....
Scenario 1 (on trend):
Means carbon content
reduction from 768gCO2
/dollar spent today, to
36gCO2/$ spent
ie 21 times lower than the
average carbon intensity
today.
Scenario 3 (world at EU
prosperity level):
768 down to 14gCO2/$
spent – 55 times lower
Prof Tim Jackson
Prosperity without
Growth? SDC 2009
Context: UK consumption GHG emissions increased
by 15% from 2000-2008
Territorial emissions refers to emissions from UK territory, and are reported under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Producer impacts refers to impacts associated with the activities of UK citizens. They differ from territorial impacts in that they include impacts from international
aviation and shipping and some activities of UK citizens abroad; and exclude the corresponding activities of non-UK citizens in the UK.
Consumer impacts includes all global impacts in the production of goods and services that are consumed by UK domestic final consumption. This differs from producer
impacts by including import related impacts and excluding export related impacts.
Direct emissions are those directly emitted by use of fossil fuels in the home and private motoring.
UK consumption GHG emissions
are....
emissions resulting from UK demand for goods &
services, assigned to the country and sector which
produced them.
So this data shows, for example the global GHG impacts of a shirt you buy in the UK eg
making the fabric in India, manufacture in Thailand, packaging in Turkey, and UK retail
Details of the new data
• The data consists of 57 products and 113 countries and is from 2004, which is the
most recent trade data available through the GTAP database.
• All figures are expressed as CO2e and in kilotonnes (kt). Due to the nature of the
modelling and the international trade data available, all figures should be treated as
estimates and used with caution
• As these figures are based on trade data direct household emissions are excluded,
for example, emissions from household transport or heating.
• As emissions are allocated to final consumption, food eaten in restaurants is
allocated to the hospitality sector rather than to food production or agriculture, and so
on.
Breakdown of UK Consumer CO2e Emissions
(2004)
1100
1000
900
Direct Emissions from
Households
161
Other
Europe
Million Tonnes CO2e
800
700
600
500
UK consumption
of goods and
services from
outside UK
455
EU
(ex UK)
Rest of
World
54%
400
200
UK consumption of
goods and services
from within the UK
100
46%
300
0
Asia
386
North
America
Total UK GHG Consumption Emissions,
split by sector (2004 data in kilotonnes CO2e)
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000 120,000 140,000 160,000
Distribution and Transport
Agriculture and Food Production
Public Sector Services & Admin
Services
Electricity and utilities
Electronic Equipment and
Machinery
Textiles and Clothing
Construction
Vehicle and Transport Equipment
Chemicals
RoW
Emissions
UK
Emissions
Other Manufactured Products
Minerals and mineral products
Wood and Paper Products
Metal and metal products
Due to the nature of the modelling and the international trade data available, all
figures should be treated as estimates and used with caution
The individual products with the highest
emissions (2004 data in kilotonnes CO2e)
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
These 15 products make
up over 75% of the UK’s
GHG consumption
emissions.
80,000
Electricity
Food products nec
Trade Distribution
Construction
Motor vehicles and parts
Air transport
Business services nec
Chemical rubber plastic…
Machinery and…
RoW
Emissions
UK
Emissions
NB This graph excludes
public administration,
which is not
disaggregated further
and therefore shows far
larger emissions than
products where data is
available in more detail.
Transport nec
Electronic equipment
Manufactures nec
Wearing apparel
Water transport
Due to the nature of the
modelling and the international
trade data available, all figures
should be treated as estimates
and used with caution
Top 15 emitting countries / world regions
(excluding the UK) (2004 data in kilotonnes CO2e)
90,000
80,000
70,000
UK Emissions =
385,812 kt CO2e
CO2e (kt)
60,000
50,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
-
Due to the nature of the modelling and the international trade data available, all
figures should be treated as estimates and used with caution
Analysis of top emitting countries
• The top 15 emitting countries / world regions account for
nearly 70% of the total emissions associated with UK
imports.
• The emissions that occur in China alone are higher than all
the direct emissions from UK car use.
• Evidence suggests that in 1990 65% of the emissions from
UK consumed goods and services occurred in the UK. By
2008, this has reduced to 45%, a dramatic shift in a very
short timescale.
Impact : Embedded water
= 150 litres
of water
Issues for business:
•Water supply: 70%
used for agriculture,
food production to
increase by 50% by
2030
•Water scarcity could
lead to 30%
reduction in harvests
by 2030 (UNEP)
•Reputational and
regulatory risks
= 11,000 litres
of water
= 4,000
litres of
water
So what are we doing about this?
Coalition Government policy approach
1. Less regulation – new is very difficult, old are being re-
examined for effectiveness and streamlining
2. More behavioural approaches – as alternatives to
regulation; as ways of making existing regs work, and
nudging change
3. More action by business: seen as business making the right
contribution to public policy goals
4. Updating our evidence base
We use a mix of policy interventions to change behaviour at key
stages of the business supply chain, in international forums, and
through Government programmes (Wrap)
Guidance/enabling
Footprinting methods ,
supply chain
transparency, new
business models,
awards.
Regulation/standards
EU product standards,
Ecolabel, producer
responsibility
Distribution
and retail
Raw materials
International
protection, and
business
support
EU SCP Action Plan,
UNEP collaboration
projects (Marrakesh,
Rio+20), Palm Oil,
Instruments to
incentivise green
products, support
3rd sector initiatives
Production
Public
procurement
Govt Buying
Standards, timber,
25% energy, water,
waste cut in
Greening Govt
Commitments
Investment
local
infrastructure
(Wrap),
End of life
Consumer use
Voluntary
agreements
Product Roadmaps,
Courtauld, hospitality
sector, construction waste,
on min product standards
Consumer
information
‘A-G’ labelling, Direct
Gov, Framework for
Sustainable Living,
partnership orojects with
business and civil
society
Measure and manage – enabling change
Supply chain – measure and manage:
•
Carbon footprinting (revised PAS 2050, Guidance
•
Product Category Rules for food groups, open-source
access (Wrap led Products Research Forum, with
Courtauld signatories)
•
Potentially do Guidance on water footprinting as different
methodologies undermine confidence in results.
EU wide Regulation
Eco Design and Energy Labelling Directives
•
11 energy using products minimum performance standards: saving
7MtCO2/yr by 2020, and almost £1Bn off consumer electricity bills;
further 12 products in progress
•
Extended to Energy Related Products
•
2012 review of EcoDesign Directive – potential big opportunity for
waste prevention criteria
Ecolabel Directive
•
Ecolabel for differentiating the most environmentally friendly
products: 1700 products, some major players eg Johnson’s Paints,
cleaning products, personal care.
Government purchasing leadership
• Government buying standards (GBS)
• 60 products and services
• Top 15% of the market
• Embedding into new CO centralised contracts for
facilities management, fleet, furniture
• ICT GBS 30% more efficient than current Energy Star
• Must meet VFM requirements, whole life costing
assessed for Impact Assessments; buy less.
• Savings of £40M/yr from Fleet GBS, £7M furniture etc.
Voluntary action with business: Roadmaps,
responsibility deals
http://defra.gov.uk/environment/consumerprod/products/index.htm
REVIEW EVIDENCE
Look at both the
-impacts of product across
lifecycle and
-- current interventions.
Evidence reviews
published:
MILK
CLOTHING
TVs
WCs
PLASTERBOARD
WINDOWS
CARS
DOMESTIC LIGHTING
ELECTRIC MOTORS
FISH AND SHELLFISH
ENGAGE STAKEHOLDERS
Discuss and agree the
evidence with stakeholders from
across the product lifecycle
Extensive stakeholder
engagement:
MILK
CLOTHING
PLASTERBOARD
WINDOWS
FISH AND SHELLFISH
WCs
ELECTRIC MOTORS
Initial stakeholder engagement
but no furtther action:
TVs
CARS
DOMESTIC LIGHTING
ACTION PLAN and Implementation
Develop a plan for improving product
sustainability.
Action plan published:
MILK – now DAIRY
CLOTHING
PLASTERBOARD
WINDOWS
WCS
ELECTRIC MOTORS
Not yet published:
FISH AND SHELLFISH
Stimulating citizen demand, a behavioural approach.
Understanding the factors that influence us:
Infrastructure
Experience
Environmental
change
Norms
Attitudes
Culture
Social
networks
Beliefs
Geography
Situational
factors
Influencing
human
behaviour
Habits
Behavioural
factors
Institutional
framework
Selfefficacy
Values
Identity
Access to
capital
Information
Social
learning
Awareness
Knowledge
Leadership
Altruism
Perceptions
We know why people are acting and why
they are not – the evidence shows...
What others
are doing is
key
Skills and
ability more
important than
understanding
What’s in it
for me is
important
‘It just makes
sense’ though
making a
difference
matters
•
•
•
•
•
I won’t if you don’t and why should I - fairness and trust is key
People’s behaviour follows the behaviour of others – social norms
People need to see exemplification – government and business should act first
People want to be involved – e.g. active involvement in decision making
Localism and community action – feeling connected to the place I live matters
•
•
•
•
•
People learn from each other - peer to peer learning
Self efficacy & agency – knowledge, skills and feeling capable of making a difference
People are sceptical about the problem, causes, and value of action
Understanding the science of climate change is not a prerequisite for action
Ability to act and ease of action – e.g. access to the right infrastructure
• Fit with self identity and status – who I am and how others see me
• People are more concerned by loss (costs) than gain – focus on what you’ll lose by
inaction rather than what you’ll save by acting
• Lifestyle fit – people don’t really want to change their lives
• People ‘only want to do their bit’ – people will only do enough to alleviate guilt or feel
good (and often this is a little)
• Not all sustainable behaviours are motivated by environmental concerns – some act to
avoid wastefulness, to feel good, to make cost savings or be a little frugal
• There is a disconnect between the small actions and the big issue
• People desire feedback on progress and validation – they want to know they are doing
the ‘right’ things and progress is being made
Key principles to inform behavioural
approaches
We will if you will
•
Make the ‘right’ choices easier – co-design and partnership delivery involving Government,
business, communities, and civil society can address the barriers to uptake, be more
effective, and provide a mandate to help ‘green’ lifestyles incrementally
•
Leading by example and consistency are core foundations - demonstrating government
and business are acting themselves as well as enabling others to act is critical. People don’t
view policies in isolation - demonstrating consistency in national and local government
policies can show the importance of the issue
Start where people are
•
Encourage people to see sustainable lifestyles differently - understand how people feel
about current behaviours and ‘desired’ behaviours. Make the links to what different groups
care about – go beyond environmental concern – and across lifestyles
No single solution
•
Multiple measures at multiple levels – design a package of measures to enable different
groups to act. Development is informed by our understanding of what is more likely to work;
of why people act and why they do not; and of people’s responses to different interventions
Influencing behaviour, we have:
• Published the Framework for Sustainable Living– to help
organisations understand what sustainable living looks like,
and to shape their campaigns/behavioural interventions
• Funded pilot projects eg Greener Living Fund
• Partnership projects with business (we are open to new
ideas or projects business would like to develop with us)
• Funded Action Based Research projects to test innovative
approaches to influencing behaviour
In summary
• Supply chain measurement and action essential
• Requires joint action by Govt and industry
• Voluntary action can be facilitated by Govt, but
industry must be ambitious for change
• Business can help stimulate consumer demand for
more sustainable products – civil society
campaigns can be helpful!
Thank you