Local concepts for carbon-neutrality and 100% renewables- a chance for sustainable consumption patterns?

ERSCP 2017Skiathos Oct 1-5, 2017

Dr. Frieder RubikIOEW – Institute for Ecological

Economy Research, Berlin

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The IOEW - Institute for EcologicalEconomy Research

– IOEW is a leading scientific institute– practice-oriented research for a sustainable economy– Founded in 1985– non-for-profit– Objective: to devise strategies and approaches for viable, long-

term economic activity – for an economy which enables a goodlife and preserves natural resources

– In 2000 recognition by the German Federal Ministry of Educationand Research (BMBF) as “center of excellence in social-ecological research“

– More than 500 completed research and consulting projects

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Content

1. Project background2. Analysis of climate concepts3. Survey among districts and municipalities4. Conclusions

BACKGROUND

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The project

– Client: German Federal Environmental Agency (UBA)– Partner:

– Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW) Berlin/Heidelberg/DE

– Duration: 09/2016 - 10/2018

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The project: Basic idea

– Climate neutral districts / 100% renewables districts as local/regionalapproaches/strategies for a transformation of the energy system

– Sustainable consumption (SC) as an approach to transformconsumption practises of private consumers

– Main hypotheses:– Sustainable consumption constitutes one element on the path towards

a climate neutral district/municipality

– Strategies of regions/municipalities including climate-neutral goals andsustainable consumption can rarely be found

Such regional/local strategies could enrich and push discussionsand further strategies supporting sustainable consumption patters

Sustainable consumption research (&policy) should consider this

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The project: questions & methods applied– Research questions:

– Identification of the prio activities (from point of view of regions/munipalities)to strengthen sustainable consumption patterns considering explicit targets

– Development of politcal recommendations for a involvement ofregions/municipalities for the implementation of the German „National programmsfor sustainable consumption“

– Is the approach „Climate neutrale region“ as a meta strategy adequate tostrengthen sustainable consumption patterns?

– Methods applied:– Desk research among districts, cities and municipalities with climate

strategies (n = 89)

– Online quantitative survey among them (n = 154)

– Qualitative interviews (still ongoing) (n = 5-7)

– Expert workshop (foreseen spring 2018)

ANALYSIS OF CLIMATE CONCEPTS

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Desk analysis

– Domains:– nutrition/food– leisure– clothing– work– energy consumption in households– housing– mobility– funds

– Measure types:– education– information– labels– production (especially prosuming)– GPP– field research– financial aids– monitoring

– Desk research based analysis of 89 climate concepts– Focus:

– Which need fields are dealt within the concepts?

– Which consumption-oriented measures are dealt with?

– Need fields based „National programme on sustainable consumption“(2016) of German Federal Government

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The sampleDifferent approaches (in Germany):– „Masterplan plan“ cities/districts, i.e. receiving subsidies by German Ministry for the

Environment for planning a reduction of their GHG-emissions by 95% up to 2050

– „100% renewables regions“, i.e. pursuing the goal of a completeenergy self-sufficiency

– „Energy cities“, i.e. implementing creative or innovative measures foran expansion of renewables

– „Bioenergy-cities“, i.e. generating structures for production and use of biomass

Identification of relevant sample:– 311 districts/cities identified with a concept

– 160 districts/cities with concept accessible

– 89 districts/cities pursuing a climate neutrality objective (i.e.: -40%GHGemissions up to 2020 and/or -80% up to 2050) in their concepts our sample for deeper analysis

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Results of desk analysis I – need fields

Need fields General mention Concepts withmeasures

Concepts withoutmeasures

Nutrition/food 30 28 61

Leisure 19 16 73

Clothing 1 1 88

Work 49 47 42

Energy consumption inprivate househalds 89 89 0

Housing 2 1 88

Mobility 84 81 8

Funds 30 3 86

Focus: Consideration of need fields within the concepts

n = 89

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Results of desk analysis II - measures

117179

30 46

203

1990 85

4761

4 7

38

4

585

6146

73

1934

050100150200250300

Education Information Labels Prod. (prosuming) GPP Field research Monitoring Financial aids

Frequencyof measure types

Measures in consumption domainOverriding measureNumber of concepts without measures

Focus: Number of identified consumption-oriented measures according to measure types

n = 89

SURVEY AMONG DISTRICTS,

CITIES & MUNICPALITIES13

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Survey

– Sample: 154 districts, cities and municipalities withaccessible climate concepts

– Online survey May-July 2017– Questionnaire 15-20 minutes– Participants: n = 117, of which 85 were usable– Return rate: 55%– Target audience: Responsible climate managers within

districts/cities/municipalities

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Results of online-survey I – 3 types

– „Zero“-state, i.e. municipalities withoutconsumption-related measures neitherplanned nor implemented

– Beginning state, i.e. municipalitieswhich plan consumption-relatedmeasures

– Advanced state, i.e. municipalitieswhich implement consumption-relatedmeasures

– N = 25

– N = 13

– N = 47

SUM: 85

5%

22%

55%

21%

33%

31%

15%

19%

7%

15%

14%

4%

26%

6%

2%

15%

4%

2%

2%

1%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Strategic importance of support of sustainableconsumption within climate concept

Strategic importance of private consumers /households in climate concept

Importance of participation of consumers, NGO andCSO to reach climate objectives

6 = very high 5 4 3 2 1 = very low n.A.

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Results of online-survey II – strategic approach

High importance of participation of consumers / NGOs /CSOs Modest importance of support of sustainable consumption

86%

55%

26%

N = 85

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Results of online-survey III – time of participation

25%

28%

18%

33%

28%

25%

17%

21%

21%

11%

9%

8%

5%

8%

12%

3%

4%

14%

7%

3%

1%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Consolidation of a measure

Implementation of a measure

Initiation & planning of a measure

6 = completely applicable 5 4 3 2 1 = not applicable at all n.A.

Importance of participation: Modest at planning, significant at consolidationN = 85

43%

56%

58%

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Results of online-survey IV – spins & participation

39%

34%

11%

14%

32%

30%

26%

20%

11%

21%

14%

14%

11%

7%

20%

16%

4%

9%

17%

1%

3%

7%

16%

3%

5%

13%

3%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Inclusion of citizens / NGOs for activating privatehousholds to realise climate objectives

Inclusion of citizens / NGOs for increase of acceptance

Inclusion of citizens / NGOs of citizens / NGOs forbalancing heterogenous interests and opinions

Citizens / NGOs as spin doctors and initiators of themeasure

6 = completely applicable 5 4 3 2 1 = not at all applicable k. A.

Spins modest (~34%) Dominance of acceptance or activiation of consumer role (64-71%)

N = 76

34%

37%

64%

71%

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Results of online-survey V – adressed roles of citizen

7%

7%

12%

17%

27%

30%

33%

35%

37%

70%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Other

Investor (e.g. saving and investment)

No answer possible

Employee (e.g. activities in professional context)

Political activist (e.g. collaboration in parties,NGOs etc.)

Prosumer (e.g. electricity and heat in own house)

Volunteers (e.g. voluntary engagement in andorganisations)

Private investor (z.B. Hausbau,Gebäudesanierung, technische Anlagen am/ im…

Family member, friend, neigboor

Consumer (e.g. food, clothing, furniture, leisure)

Main emphasis on role of citizen as consumer Modest / insufficient perception of other roles

N = 60

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Results of online-survey VI – effectivity of local politics

2%

16%

28%

5%

21%

20%

19%

36%

22%

28%

15%

19%

29%

7%

7%

13%

1%

1%

4%

2%

2%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Support of sustainableconsumption

Support of energy efficiency

Support of renewables

6 = very high 5 4 3 2 1 = very modest n.A.

Effectivity of focus on support of SC is regarded as very modest „Traditional“ approaches are regarded as more effective

N = 85

38%

37%

7%

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Results of online-survey VII – reasons for non ormodest consideration of sustainable consumption

12%

12%

12%

20%

36%

40%

52%

60%

10%

25%

33%

22%

10%

42%

58%

25%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

No answer possible

Missing support of important players

Perception of missing public interest

Other reason

Missing knowledge

Missing financial ressources / aids

Missing staff

Responsibility for topic "sustainableconsumption" not dealt within climate protection

Beginners or advanced municipalities "Zero" state municipalities

Personnel and financial ressources as barriers (all) Responsibility for topic („zero“ state municipalities)

N = 85

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Conclusions– „Misperception“ due to principle of territoriality of GHG statistics (focus on GHG

emissions within the considered territory )– „exclusion“ of relevant fields outside („grey energy“) provide databases

– Contradiction between participation of private consumers and recognition ofsustainable consumption as strategic approach

– Strengthening of strategic alliances between consumption communities and climateprotection communities

– Citizens and roles– From acceptance and target groups spin doctors– Form implementation initiation– From consumers other roles

– Formal and personnel competences– Supporting bottom up approaches– Training and exemplary good practises

– Altogether:– Considerable potential to strengthen sustainable climate-neutral consumption within

climate protection strategies– SC policies need to form new alliances and use new arguments

Thank you for your attention.

Dr. Frieder RubikIÖW – Institute for Ecological

Economy Researchfrieder.rubik@ioew.de

October 2017