Document Type

Article

Decoupling and Displaced Emissions On Swedish Consumers, Chinese Producers and Policy to Address the Climate Impact of Consumption

Authors

Cindy Isenhour, University of Maine, Department of AnthropologyFollow

Publication Title

Journal of Cleaner Production

Publication Date

2016

First Page

320

Last Page

329

Volume Number

134

Abstract/ Summary

New developments in consumption-based emissions accounting suggest that the reductions claimed by wealthy, environmentally progressive nations have often come at the expense of increased emissions elsewhere – and thus net growth in global GHG concentrations. This paper traces Sweden's attempts to translate growing recognition of displaced emissions into national environmental policy. Drawing on multi-sited ethnographic research and policy analysis in Sweden and China, we argue that while the logical implications of consumption-based analyses point to the need to address production and consumption as an integrated system, complex governance challenges and the political precariousness of these ideas have thus far limited policy to the reinvention of consumer awareness campaigns and an international extension of long-standing ecological efficiency efforts. We argue that consumption-based emissions indicators justify more ambitious demand-side policy response.

Repository Citation

Article title: Decoupling and Displaced Emissions On Swedish Consumers, Chinese Producers and Policy to Address the Climate Impact of Consumption Article reference: JCLP5008 Journal title: Journal of Cleaner Production Corresponding author: Dr. Cindy Isenhour First author: Dr. Cindy Isenhour Final version published online: 6-AUG-2016 Full bibliographic details: Journal of Cleaner Production (2016), pp. 320-329 DOI information: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.12.037

DOI

doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.12.037

Version

pre-print (i.e. pre-refereeing)