01126848

Component

Personal Carbon Trading (PCT) whereby individuals receive a carbon allowance to set against their consumption has been put forward as a measure for securing reductions in household carbon emissions from transport and domestic energy. Clearly a Carbon Tax (CT) might be seen as a cheaper and potentially just as effective solution. Arguments in favor of a PCT scheme suggest that it could secure greater savings through changing attitudes and behavior than a pure price signal and that fixed carbon allowances would secure savings with greater certainty than would a tax. This paper reports preliminary results of a research study that aimed to identify any differences in response to a PCT scheme and a CT where the price signal is the same. The survey design process is detailed as this posed particular challenges in effective communication of the policy options and in capturing behavioral response. The survey work was conducted in two phases in Cardiff (Wales) with 79 respondents and in the South East of England with 208 respondents both in 2008. The findings suggest that a majority would change their behavior in response to either instrument, securing carbon savings of 12 to 19%. However, whilst a higher percentage would change their behavior in response to a CT, those who do change their behavior make greater savings under a PCT. Thus the findings provide mixed evidence for the hypothesis that the behavioral response to PCT may be greater than that to a CT.

01120148

09-2459

English

16p

2009

Transportation Research Board 88th Annual Meeting

DVD

References (18) ; Tables (8)

Carbon taxes; Emissions trading; Energy consumption; Environmental impacts; Exhaust gases; Pollutants; Travel behavior

Emissions reduction; Fuel costs

Environment; Finance; Highways; Society; I15: Environment

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2009 Paper #09-2459

TRIS, TRB

Jan 30 2009 6:49PM