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Project Topic
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Due to expectations of more ambitious GHG mitigation goals to be agreed on internationally in the future, climate policy will have to target
households. Households in high-income-countries influence some 50 % of GHG emissions. Thus, targeting them in climate policies implies
including emissions embedded in private consumption which so far has largely been outside the scope of current climate policies. The EU
roadmap for a competitive low carbon economy calls for reducing GHG emissions by 80-95% until 2050. Thus, we apply a long-term goal of
reducing household GHG emissions in the range of 50 % by 2050 compared with 1990, in which we will develop possible pathways for
households to contribute to reach this goal. The HOPE project will generate new knowledge in three areas (1) the drivers behind current
household emission (2) households choices to achieve imposed GHG reduction targets (3) economic costs amp; benefits as well as health
co-benefits of each choice. The four study countries offer different contexts in climate policy, GHG-emission profiles and energy supply. We
study a representative urban household sample in each country. The study comprises three stages: (1) A household interview survey
including the assessment of the current household footprint of direct and indirect GHG emissions. (2) An on-site simulation, in which
household will be guided through a GHG reduction simulation of 60 GHG saving options. For each behavioral change, the resulting savings
(GHG reduction), costs and health co-benefits will be shown. (3) A semi-structured qualitative follow-up interview addressing household
views on potential barriers and motivation for the measures chosen in stage 2 will be applied to a carefully chosen subsample based on the
results of stages 1 and 2. Engaging with policy-makers from the start we will develop possible innovations in current climate policy regimes
at EU, national and local level of governance to support households in their consumption choices.
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