Abstract
The assessment literature on climate change solutions to date has emphasized technologies and options based on cost-effectiveness analysis. However, many solutions to climate change mitigation misalign with such analytical frameworks. Here, we examine demand-side solutions, a crucial class of mitigation options that go beyond technological specification and cost-benefit analysis. To do so, we synthesize demand-side mitigation options in the urban, building, transport, and agricultural sectors. We also highlight the specific nature of demand-side solutions in the context of development. We then discuss key analytical considerations to integrate demand-side options into overarching assessments on mitigation. Such a framework would include infrastructure solutions that interact with endogenous preference formation. Both hard infrastructures, such as the built environment, and soft infrastructures, such as habits and norms, shape behavior and as a consequence offer significant potential for reducing overall energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions. We conclude that systemic infrastructural and behavioral change will likely be a necessary component of a transition to a low-carbon society.
Highlights
Around 2010 [4], in contrast to observed trajectories [5]
We systematically investigate demand-side solutions that influence either direct emissions, for example, in transportation, buildings, agriculture, and cities, or indirect emissions through their influence on consumption patterns
Key among these is the spatial organization of urban areas, the geometric characteristics established by the relationship between the configuration of roads; buildings; the primary elements of public structures, including green spaces; the distribution and mix of land uses; and the relative location of activities and places of origin and destination
Summary
This section investigates demand-side solutions in transportation, buildings, cities, and the agriculture and food sector. Key among these is the spatial organization of urban areas, the geometric characteristics established by the relationship between the configuration of roads; buildings; the primary elements of public structures, including green spaces; the distribution and mix of land uses; and the relative location of activities and places of origin and destination. The terms urban form and structure are used by different disciplines in slightly different ways, it is well established that urban spatial characteristics such as connectivity, accessibility, land use mix, and density strongly affect transport demand and building size. Urban spatial characteristics can direct behavioral action, for example, by advancing a low-carbon lifestyle that incentivizes modal shift from car transport to cycling. We proceed with investigating solutions in the agriculture and food sector (Section 2.4) and conclude this section with summarizing demand-side solutions in end-use sectors (Section 2.5)
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