How does a social practice perspective add to the development of policy instruments to reduce consumption-based CO2 emissions? A case study of Austria

Abstract

ABSTRACT While current policies aiming at a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions seem to be successful from the territorial perspective of industrialized countries, emissions are still increasing at the global level. The term weak carbon leakage describes a situation where an increase in consumption in developed countries leads to growing emissions in less developed countries. This effect is strongly related to phenomena like globalization and outsourcing of production. As a consequence, a large part of daily consumed products are imported and include embodied emissions (i.e. direct and indirect emissions that occur in the regions of production). For the development of effective policy instruments addressing consumption-based-emissions (CBE) embodied in these international products and processes, it is essential to apply a consumption-based approach (CBA), including both consumer-oriented policies, focusing on final demand, and producer-oriented policies, focusing on industry. Since a considerable share of consumption behaviour is performed by routines, habits and within social practices (cooking, working or shopping), CBE due to consumer behaviour are analysed in this paper by applying the social practices (SP) approach to the case of Austria. Based on this approach the development of effective policy instruments addressing a reduction of CBE by three types of interventions (re-crafting, substituting and interlocking) are discussed for the main hotspots of Austria’s CBE: construction and mobility. Key policy insights An SP perspective enriches the development of CBE policy instruments by shifting the focus of interventions from individual motivations (conscious consumption) towards the constitutional frame and the particular practice-setting which determines consumer behaviour. Consumption sectors such as construction and mobility are most often embedded in behavioural interlocking (e.g. commuting), calling for practical policy mixes to address this complex interplay of practices. The SP approach demonstrates that CBE can be addressed also by single instruments (e.g. changing a regulation, favouring the avoidance of certain practices or materials offered/used) only.