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Uncovering Household Carbon Footprint Drivers in an Aging, Shrinking Society

Author

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  • Yuzhuo Huang

    (Graduate School of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo-machi, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan)

  • Yosuke Shigetomi

    (Graduate School of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo-machi, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan)

  • Andrew Chapman

    (International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan)

  • Ken’ichi Matsumoto

    (Graduate School of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo-machi, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan)

Abstract

In order to meet climate change mitigation goals, nations such as Japan need to consider strategies to reduce the impact that lifestyles have on overall emission levels. This study analyzes carbon footprints from household consumption (i.e., lifestyles) using index and structural decomposition analysis for the time period from 1990 to 2005. The analysis identified that households in their 40s and 50s had the highest levels of both direct and indirect CO 2 emissions, with decomposition identifying consumption patterns as the driving force behind these emissions and advances in CO 2 reduction technology having a reducing effect on lifestyle emissions. An additional challenge addressed by this study is the aging, shrinking population phenomenon in Japan. The increase in the number of few-member and elderly households places upward pressure on emissions as the aging population and declining national birth rate continues. The analysis results offer two mitigatory policy suggestions: the focusing of carbon reduction policies on older and smaller households, and the education of consumers toward low-carbon consumption habits. As the aging, shrinking population phenomenon is not unique to Japan, the findings of this research have broad applications globally where these demographic shifts are being experienced.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuzhuo Huang & Yosuke Shigetomi & Andrew Chapman & Ken’ichi Matsumoto, 2019. "Uncovering Household Carbon Footprint Drivers in an Aging, Shrinking Society," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-18, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:19:p:3745-:d:272377
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    Cited by:

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    2. Yu, Miao & Meng, Bo & Li, Rong, 2022. "Analysis of China's urban household indirect carbon emissions drivers under the background of population aging," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 114-125.
    3. Shiraki, Hiroto & Matsumoto, Ken'ichi & Shigetomi, Yosuke & Ehara, Tomoki & Ochi, Yuki & Ogawa, Yuki, 2020. "Factors affecting CO2 emissions from private automobiles in Japan: The impact of vehicle occupancy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 259(C).
    4. Ying Long & Jiahao Feng & Aolong Sun & Rui Wang & Yafei Wang, 2023. "Structural Characteristics of the Household Carbon Footprint in an Aging Society," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-18, August.
    5. Anshuman Chaube & Andrew Chapman & Yosuke Shigetomi & Kathryn Huff & James Stubbins, 2020. "The Role of Hydrogen in Achieving Long Term Japanese Energy System Goals," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-17, September.
    6. Chen Liu & Alice Marie Yamabe-Ledoux, 2023. "Challenges in Achieving 1.5-Degree Lifestyle Mitigation Options—Insights from a Citizen-Participatory Household Experiment in Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-27, August.
    7. Fang Shen & Zibibula Simayi & Shengtian Yang & Yusuyunjiang Mamitimin & Xiaofen Zhang & Yunyi Zhang, 2023. "A Bibliometric Review of Household Carbon Footprint during 2000–2022," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-25, April.
    8. Balezentis, Tomas, 2020. "Shrinking ageing population and other drivers of energy consumption and CO2 emission in the residential sector: A case from Eastern Europe," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).

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