Demand-side solutions to climate change mitigation consistent with high levels of well-being

Felix Creutzig (), Leila Niamir, Xuemei Bai, Max Callaghan, Jonathan Cullen, Julio Díaz-José, Maria Figueroa, Arnulf Grubler, William F. Lamb, Adrian Leip, Eric Masanet, Érika Mata, Linus Mattauch, Jan C. Minx, Sebastian Mirasgedis, Yacob Mulugetta, Sudarmanto Budi Nugroho, Minal Pathak, Patricia Perkins, Joyashree Roy, Stephane Rue du Can, Yamina Saheb, Shreya Some, Linda Steg, Julia Steinberger and Diana Ürge-Vorsatz
Additional contact information
Felix Creutzig: Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change
Leila Niamir: Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change
Xuemei Bai: Australian National University
Max Callaghan: Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change
Jonathan Cullen: University of Cambridge
Julio Díaz-José: Universidad Veracruzana
Maria Figueroa: Copenhagen Business School
Arnulf Grubler: International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis
William F. Lamb: Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change
Adrian Leip: European Commission, Joint Research Centre
Eric Masanet: University of California
Érika Mata: IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute
Jan C. Minx: Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change
Sebastian Mirasgedis: National Observatory of Athens
Yacob Mulugetta: University College London
Sudarmanto Budi Nugroho: Institute for Global Environmental Strategies
Minal Pathak: Ahmedabad University
Patricia Perkins: York University
Stephane Rue du Can: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Yamina Saheb: OpenExp
Shreya Some: Ahmedabad University
Linda Steg: University of Groningen
Julia Steinberger: Faculty of Geosciences and Environment, University of Lausanne
Diana Ürge-Vorsatz: Central European University

Nature Climate Change, 2022, vol. 12, issue 1, 36-46

Abstract: Abstract Mitigation solutions are often evaluated in terms of costs and greenhouse gas reduction potentials, missing out on the consideration of direct effects on human well-being. Here, we systematically assess the mitigation potential of demand-side options categorized into avoid, shift and improve, and their human well-being links. We show that these options, bridging socio-behavioural, infrastructural and technological domains, can reduce counterfactual sectoral emissions by 40–80% in end-use sectors. Based on expert judgement and an extensive literature database, we evaluate 306 combinations of well-being outcomes and demand-side options, finding largely beneficial effects in improvement in well-being (79% positive, 18% neutral and 3% negative), even though we find low confidence on the social dimensions of well-being. Implementing such nuanced solutions is based axiomatically on an understanding of malleable rather than fixed preferences, and procedurally on changing infrastructures and choice architectures. Results demonstrate the high mitigation potential of demand-side mitigation options that are synergistic with well-being.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41558-021-01219-y

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