Carbon shifting
Encyclopedia
Carbon shifting is the tendency for an individual to increase carbon dioxide emissions in one area of their lifestyle as a result of reducing emissions elsewhere.
‘Carbon shifting’ might more accurately be termed ‘domestic carbon shifting’ to distinguish it from carbon leakage
which has occasionally also been called carbon shifting.
Many attempts to encourage people to change aspects of their lifestyle and so reduce their carbon dioxide emissions make a virtue of the financial savings. In the United Kingdom the Energy Saving Trust
lists various ways of saving energy, e.g. “Energy saving light bulbs last up to 12 times longer than ordinary lightbulbs and can save you £9 per year in electricity (and 38 kilograms of ) or £100 over the bulbs lifetime.” However, whether or not carbon dioxide emissions are ultimately reduced will depend on how that saved money is spent. If the amount of money saved through walking to work is eventually spent on an extra city break involving air travel the net emissions may well increase.
The problem of carbon shifting may undermine many voluntary piecemeal attempts at reducing carbon dioxide emissions. However, carbon shifting is not inherently negative. If a person can be persuaded to avoid activities that produce a high level of emissions for a given financial outlay then they may shift to activities that produce lower emissions for that same amount of money. Positive carbon shifting might be encouraged through the use of a carbon tax
or the implementation of a Personal carbon trading
scheme.
The phenomenon of carbon shifting also suggests that for some comparative purposes the most appropriate measure of emissions would be emissions per unit of currency rather than total emissions. An activity that produces slightly lower emissions at a significantly lower cost may not necessarily be the best activity to promote as it leaves the individual with more money to spend on other emitting activities. Similarly, if two passengers are traveling on the same aircraft they might be deemed to be emitting the same total amount of carbon dioxide. However, if one of them paid a lower fare then, by this measure, they would be deemed to be damaging the environment more.
‘Carbon shifting’ might more accurately be termed ‘domestic carbon shifting’ to distinguish it from carbon leakage
Carbon leakage
Carbon leakage occurs when there is an increase in carbon dioxide emissions in one country as a result of an emissions reduction by a second country with a strict climate policy.Carbon leakage may occur for a number of reasons:...
which has occasionally also been called carbon shifting.
Many attempts to encourage people to change aspects of their lifestyle and so reduce their carbon dioxide emissions make a virtue of the financial savings. In the United Kingdom the Energy Saving Trust
Energy Saving Trust
Energy Saving Trust is a non-profit organisation jointly funded by the British Government and the private sector in order to help fight climate change by promoting the sustainable use of energy, energy conservation and to cut carbon dioxide emissions in the United Kingdom.-Background:The Energy...
lists various ways of saving energy, e.g. “Energy saving light bulbs last up to 12 times longer than ordinary lightbulbs and can save you £9 per year in electricity (and 38 kilograms of ) or £100 over the bulbs lifetime.” However, whether or not carbon dioxide emissions are ultimately reduced will depend on how that saved money is spent. If the amount of money saved through walking to work is eventually spent on an extra city break involving air travel the net emissions may well increase.
The problem of carbon shifting may undermine many voluntary piecemeal attempts at reducing carbon dioxide emissions. However, carbon shifting is not inherently negative. If a person can be persuaded to avoid activities that produce a high level of emissions for a given financial outlay then they may shift to activities that produce lower emissions for that same amount of money. Positive carbon shifting might be encouraged through the use of a carbon tax
Carbon tax
A carbon tax is an environmental tax levied on the carbon content of fuels. It is a form of carbon pricing. Carbon is present in every hydrocarbon fuel and is released as carbon dioxide when they are burnt. In contrast, non-combustion energy sources—wind, sunlight, hydropower, and nuclear—do not...
or the implementation of a Personal carbon trading
Personal carbon trading
Personal carbon trading is a general term referring to a number of proposed emissions trading schemes under which emissions credits are allocated to adult individuals on a equal per capita basis, within national carbon budgets. Individuals then surrender these credits when buying fuel or electricity...
scheme.
The phenomenon of carbon shifting also suggests that for some comparative purposes the most appropriate measure of emissions would be emissions per unit of currency rather than total emissions. An activity that produces slightly lower emissions at a significantly lower cost may not necessarily be the best activity to promote as it leaves the individual with more money to spend on other emitting activities. Similarly, if two passengers are traveling on the same aircraft they might be deemed to be emitting the same total amount of carbon dioxide. However, if one of them paid a lower fare then, by this measure, they would be deemed to be damaging the environment more.
See also
- Carbon leakageCarbon leakageCarbon leakage occurs when there is an increase in carbon dioxide emissions in one country as a result of an emissions reduction by a second country with a strict climate policy.Carbon leakage may occur for a number of reasons:...
- Carbon offsetCarbon offsetA carbon offset is a reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide or greenhouse gases made in order to compensate for or to offset an emission made elsewhere....
- Carbon creditCarbon creditA carbon credit is a generic term for any tradable certificate or permit representing the right to emit one tonne of carbon dioxide or the mass of another greenhouse gas with a carbon dioxide equivalent equivalent to one tonne of carbon dioxide....
- GreenwashGreenwashGreenwashing , or "green sheen", is a form of spin in which green PR or green marketing is deceptively used to promote the perception that a company's policies or products are environmentally friendly.-Usage:...
- Low-carbon economyLow-carbon economyA Low-Carbon Economy or Low-Fossil-Fuel Economy is an economy that has a minimal output of greenhouse gas emissions into the environment biosphere, but specifically refers to the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide...
- Rebound effect (conservation)Rebound effect (conservation)In conservation and energy economics, the rebound effect refers to the behavioral or other systemic responses to the introduction of new technologies that increase the efficiency of resource use. These responses tend to offset the beneficial effects of the new technology or other measures taken...