The contribution of changes in climate-friendly behaviour, climate change concern and personal responsibility to household greenhouse gas emissions: Heating/cooling and transport activities in the European Union

Abstract

In the European Union (EU) the household sector is directly responsible for one quarter of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and this share is increasing. People's concern about climate change and climate-friendly behaviour could significantly mitigate emission levels. However, there is a lack of studies related to how changes in climate change concern, personal responsibility and climate-friendly behaviour contribute to household GHG emissions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyse whether the changes in concern, personal responsibility and climate-friendly behaviour affected the EU household sector total (HGHG), heating/cooling and transport activities GHG emissions from the Paris Agreement until the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in the EU in 2019. Results showed that household changes in choice of green energy supplier significantly reduced, and changes in insulation of home to reduce energy consumption and heating degree days significantly increased the GHG emissions in household sector. Considering the heating/cooling sector, changes in choice of green energy supplier significantly influenced the reduction of GHG emissions. Meanwhile only changes in climate change concern significantly influenced the reduction of transport activities GHG emissions. Therefore, this study provides a new insight for policymakers how to reduce GHG emissions in the household sector.