Abstract
In the ongoing discussions on the transition to low-carbon systems a reduction of working hours has gained increased interest. A shift to lower incomes coupled with more discretionary time might promote low(er) individual carbon lifestyles without impairing individual well-being. Lower carbon emissions have been linked to shorter working hours on a macroeconomic level and to lower income, and thus less carbon-intensive activities on an individual level. However, little empirical research has been done on the effects of a self-determined reduction of working time on an intra-individual level. The aim of this paper was to explore whether and how a reduction of working hours facilitates low(er)-carbon lifestyles. We do this by means of 17 qualitative guideline interviews with Swiss employees that had recently reduced their working hours. Our results suggest that the underlying motives behind the employees’ decisions to reduce their working hours are crucial. A beneficial climate-saving effect arose only for those employees who dedicated their newly gained time to binding activities, that require a certain degree of commitment, such as parenting and further education. In contrast, those who reduced their working hours due to a desire for more recreational time risked increasing the carbon intensity of their lifestyles due to carbon-intensive leisure activities.
Highlights
There is a broad consensus that we will encounter huge ecological, as well as societal, adverse consequences, if we fail to dramatically reduce human-made greenhouse gas emissions within the decade [1]
In a second step and reflecting the second research question, insights regarding the changes in their subjective discretionary time and time use due to a reduction of their working hours are provided, as well as an examination of whether these changes have an effect on the carbon intensity of their time use
In regard to the third research question, we explore what sort of motives and reasons lie behind the study participants’ decisions to reduce their working hours and what role they play in terms of the carbon intensity of their time use
Summary
There is a broad consensus that we will encounter huge ecological, as well as societal, adverse consequences, if we fail to dramatically reduce human-made greenhouse gas emissions within the decade [1]. The per capita carbon footprint of Switzerland, where the present study was conducted, has been stable at a very high level of 14 tCO2eq/a over the last 10 years [3]. The consumption of private households is one of the main drivers of greenhouse gas emissions [4], with transportation, housing and food as the dominant emitting domains. A study on Switzerland [5] found that the average per capita carbon footprint is composed of 46% emissions from transportation (33% from private car use and 12% from air travel), 33% from housing, 16% from food, and 5% due to non-durable consumer goods. A closer look at activities that drive emissions up reveals that transportation and housing depend on carbon-intensive recreation and leisure activities [6]
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