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Global scenarios of resource and emission savings from material efficiency in residential buildings and cars

Author

Listed:
  • Stefan Pauliuk

    (University of Freiburg)

  • Niko Heeren

    (Yale University
    Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU))

  • Peter Berrill

    (Yale University)

  • Tomer Fishman

    (Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya)

  • Andrea Nistad

    (Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU))

  • Qingshi Tu

    (Yale University
    University of British Columbia)

  • Paul Wolfram

    (Yale University)

  • Edgar G. Hertwich

    (Yale University
    Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU))

Abstract

Material production accounts for a quarter of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Resource-efficiency and circular-economy strategies, both industry and demand-focused, promise emission reductions through reducing material use, but detailed assessments of their GHG reduction potential are lacking. We present a global-scale analysis of material efficiency for passenger vehicles and residential buildings. We estimate future changes in material flows and energy use due to increased yields, light design, material substitution, extended service life, and increased service efficiency, reuse, and recycling. Together, these strategies can reduce cumulative global GHG emissions until 2050 by 20–52 Gt CO2-eq (residential buildings) and 13–26 Gt CO2e-eq (passenger vehicles), depending on policy assumptions. Next to energy efficiency and low-carbon energy supply, material efficiency is the third pillar of deep decarbonization for these sectors. For residential buildings, wood construction and reduced floorspace show the highest potential. For passenger vehicles, it is ride sharing and car sharing.

Suggested Citation

  • Stefan Pauliuk & Niko Heeren & Peter Berrill & Tomer Fishman & Andrea Nistad & Qingshi Tu & Paul Wolfram & Edgar G. Hertwich, 2021. "Global scenarios of resource and emission savings from material efficiency in residential buildings and cars," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-25300-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25300-4
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    Cited by:

    1. Liang, Yanan & Kleijn, René & van der Voet, Ester, 2023. "Increase in demand for critical materials under IEA Net-Zero emission by 2050 scenario," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 346(C).
    2. Wang, Zhaohua & Zhang, Hongzhi & Li, Hao & Wang, Song & Wang, Zhenpo, 2023. "Identifying the key factors to China's unsustainable external circulation through the accounting of the flow of embodied energy and virtual water," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    3. zu Ermgassen, Sophus & Drewniok, Michal & Bull, Joseph & Walker, Christine Corlet & Mancini, Mattia & Ryan-Collins, Josh & Serrenho, André Cabrera, 2022. "A home for all within planetary boundaries: pathways for meeting England’s housing needs without transgressing national climate and biodiversity goals," OSF Preprints 5kxce, Center for Open Science.
    4. Boyce, Scott & He, Fangliang, 2023. "Effects of government policy, socioeconomics, and weather on residential GHG emissions across subnational jurisdictions: The case of Canada," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    5. Elshkaki, Ayman, 2023. "The implications of material and energy efficiencies for the climate change mitigation potential of global energy transition scenarios," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 267(C).
    6. Frank Figge & Andrea Stevenson Thorpe & Siarhei Manzhynski, 2022. "Value creation and the circular economy: A tale of three externalities," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(5), pages 1690-1700, October.
    7. Takuma Watari & Zhi Cao & Sho Hata & Keisuke Nansai, 2022. "Efficient use of cement and concrete to reduce reliance on supply-side technologies for net-zero emissions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    8. Han, Sun & Zhenghao, Meng & Meilin, Li & Xiaohui, Yang & Xiaoxue, Wang, 2023. "Global supply sustainability assessment of critical metals for clean energy technology," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PB).
    9. Borja Izaola & Ortzi Akizu-Gardoki & Xabat Oregi, 2022. "Life Cycle Analysis Challenges through Building Rating Schemes within the European Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-24, April.
    10. Christoph Helbig & Jonas Huether & Charlotte Joachimsthaler & Christian Lehmann & Simone Raatz & Andrea Thorenz & Martin Faulstich & Axel Tuma, 2022. "A terminology for downcycling," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(4), pages 1164-1174, August.
    11. Christine Roxanne Hung & Paul Kishimoto & Volker Krey & Anders Hammer Strømman & Guillaume Majeau‐Bettez, 2022. "ECOPT2: An adaptable life cycle assessment model for the environmentally constrained optimization of prospective technology transitions," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(5), pages 1616-1630, October.
    12. David Frantz & Franz Schug & Dominik Wiedenhofer & André Baumgart & Doris Virág & Sam Cooper & Camila Gómez-Medina & Fabian Lehmann & Thomas Udelhoven & Sebastian Linden & Patrick Hostert & Helmut Hab, 2023. "Unveiling patterns in human dominated landscapes through mapping the mass of US built structures," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    13. Kimon Keramidas & Silvana Mima & Adrien Bidaud, 2024. "Opportunities and roadblocks in the decarbonisation of the global steel sector: A demand and production modelling approach," Post-Print hal-04383385, HAL.
    14. Pérez-Sánchez, Laura À. & Velasco-Fernández, Raúl & Giampietro, Mario, 2022. "Factors and actions for the sustainability of the residential sector. The nexus of energy, materials, space, and time use," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    15. Georg Schiller & Julia Roscher, 2023. "Impact of urbanization on construction material consumption: A global analysis," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(3), pages 1021-1036, June.
    16. Jan Streeck & Hanspeter Wieland & Stefan Pauliuk & Barbara Plank & Kenichi Nakajima & Dominik Wiedenhofer, 2023. "A review of methods to trace material flows into final products in dynamic material flow analysis: Comparative application of six methods to the United States and EXIOBASE3 regions, Part 2," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(2), pages 457-475, April.
    17. zu Ermgassen, Sophus O.S.E. & Drewniok, Michal P. & Bull, Joseph W. & Corlet Walker, Christine M. & Mancini, Mattia & Ryan-Collins, Josh & Cabrera Serrenho, André, 2022. "A home for all within planetary boundaries: Pathways for meeting England's housing needs without transgressing national climate and biodiversity goals," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    18. Gonca Yılmaz, 2023. "Which Factors Drive The Resource Efficiency in Circular Economy? A Panel Data Regression Analysis," EKOIST Journal of Econometrics and Statistics, Istanbul University, Faculty of Economics, vol. 0(38), pages 19-34, June.

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