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Ageing society in developed countries challenges carbon mitigation

Author

Listed:
  • Heran Zheng

    (Norwegian University of Science and Technology)

  • Yin Long

    (University of Tokyo)

  • Richard Wood

    (Norwegian University of Science and Technology)

  • Daniel Moran

    (Norwegian University of Science and Technology)

  • Zengkai Zhang

    (Tianjin University)

  • Jing Meng

    (University College London)

  • Kuishuang Feng

    (University of Maryland)

  • Edgar Hertwich

    (Norwegian University of Science and Technology)

  • Dabo Guan

    (University College London
    Tsinghua University)

Abstract

Populations in developed countries are ageing. However, the impact of senior citizens’ consumption on global carbon mitigation is poorly understood. Here we find that senior citizens have played a leading role in driving up GHG emissions in the past decade and are on the way to becoming the largest contributor. Considering the greenhouse gas footprint of household consumption across age groups in 32 developed countries, the senior contribution to national total consumption-based emissions increased from 25.2% to 32.7% between 2005 and 2015. Seniors in the United States and Australia have the highest per capita footprint, twice the Western average. The trend is mainly due to changes in expenditure patterns of seniors. The increasing carbon footprint of senior citizens will probably drive domestic production yet have limited effects on international carbon leakage. The demographic change poses more challenges in local mitigation and calls for deeper public mitigation efforts.

Suggested Citation

  • Heran Zheng & Yin Long & Richard Wood & Daniel Moran & Zengkai Zhang & Jing Meng & Kuishuang Feng & Edgar Hertwich & Dabo Guan, 2022. "Ageing society in developed countries challenges carbon mitigation," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 12(3), pages 241-248, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:12:y:2022:i:3:d:10.1038_s41558-022-01302-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-022-01302-y
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