Plan B? The prospects for personal carbon trading

Article

This report examines the cases for and against personal carbon trading as a policy to help reduce personal carbon emissions in the UK, and sets out the conditions under which this approach might become a realistic proposition.

To avoid dangerous climate change, deep cuts in carbon emissions will be needed. These cuts will have to be made in all parts of the economy, including in emissions produced directly by individuals. Just over 40 per cent of UK carbon emissions result from the behaviour of individuals, from heating and powering our homes and making personal journeys by car and plane. However, there is currently no sign of any decline in emissions from residential energy use, car use or aviation.

This report examines the cases for and against personal carbon trading as a policy to help reduce personal carbon emissions in the UK, and sets out the conditions under which this approach might become a realistic proposition.

Related items

  1. A young boy and girl entering the front door of a house, smiling. Their father carries a baby behind them

    The homes that children deserve: Housing policy to support families

    As the government seeks to develop a new child poverty strategy, it will need to grapple with housing – the single largest cost faced by families.
  2. A car park with a series of electric vehicle charging point parking spaces

    Powering up public support for electric vehicles

    Tackling greenhouse gas emissions will only work if public support for action remains strong. That means ensuring tangible improvements in people’s lives and heading off any brewing backlash.

  3. Assessing the economy

    Over the past few days and weeks, there has been lots of rather histrionic commentary about the UK’s economic situation as if the budget has created an economic disaster from which we’ll never recover.