Behavior change is essential for a CO2 neutral Netherlands

The Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency calculated how the Netherlands can be climate neutral in 2050 in a recent report. These insights are valuable, but they make one major omission, according to researchers Goda Perlaviciute, Thijs Bouman and Linda Steg: the effect of behavior and lifestyle is not included.

In its trajectory study Climate Neutral Netherlands 2050, the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL; Planbureau voor de Leefomgeving) focuses on the technical possibilities for our country to eventually stop emitting CO2. These include scaling up low-CO2 energy sources, hydrogen, biofuels and CO2 storage. Although the PBL does not rule out the possibility that changes in people’s behavior and lifestyle are important to achieve climate goals, they are not included in the 30 calculated pathways: ‘No drastic changes in consumption or lifestyle.’

One-sided

We want to make clear that we recognize the importance of the PBL report. That being said, we feel that by not including behavioral and lifestyle changes, the report loses value for three reasons.

Technological changes often require changes in behavior and lifestyle

First, the PBL outlines a false dichotomy: technology versus behavior and lifestyle. It is easy to conclude from the report that technology and behavior are separate, when in reality they are dependent on each other. Technological changes often require changes in behavior and lifestyle. As a concrete example, switching from fossil fuels to low-carbon energy sources requires people to use an electric stove top or drive an electric vehicle.

But it also requires people to use energy at other times, namely when the sun is shining or the wind is blowing. If people do not change their behavior and lifestyle, or offer much resistance to technological solutions (wind or solar farms), a CO2-neutral Netherlands will be out of reach. Changing behavior often requires technology. In other words, it works both ways: one cannot work without the other.

Changes in behavior and lifestyle can lead to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions of 40 to 70 percent

Second, the exclusive focus on technology obscures the fact that changes in behavior and lifestyle can yield significant emissions reductions. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicates that changes in behavior and lifestyle can lead to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions of 40 to 70 percent. These behavioral and lifestyle changes must be partially enabled by technology, but they must also provide options where technology falls short.

The PBL notes that technological solutions contributes to emissions reductions in aviation and agriculture to a limited extent. According to the IPCC, however, behavioral changes, such as flying less and eating more plant-based food, can make a big difference. Moreover, behavioral change reduces dependence on technology. This matters, because many technologies are still uncertain, expensive (e.g. hydrogen) and/or risky (e.g. deployment of ammonia, possible leaks in CO2 storage).

Support for changes in behavior and lifestyle is often greater than thought

Third, there is often more support for changes in behavior and lifestyle than commonly assumed. Worldwide, there is much support for sustainable policies. Moreover, recent research in six European countries, including the Netherlands, shows that people are equally interested in technical solutions and behavioral changes to combat climate change.

Wrong assumption

Another major European study shows that participants in citizens’ councils propose stricter climate mitigation rules, including behavioral and lifestyle changes, than their countries actually implement. The assumption often made by politicians and policymakers that people are unwilling to change their behavior is wrong. This is evidenced by changes we are already seeing: many people are investing in solar panels and heat pumps, setting up green local initiatives, eating meat less often, and also flying less.

Sustainable behavior is still too often expensive, inconvenient or time-consuming

An earlier PBL report showed that people want to change their behavior, but are not always able to do so. Sustainable behavior is still too often expensive, inconvenient or time-consuming. If people want to fly less, they sometimes have to pay up to three times as much for a train ticket, and accept much longer travel times. When setting up green cooperatives, people often get lost in administrative and legal labyrinths. Plant-based menu options are limited in restaurants or canteens.

In short, policies that encourage sustainable behavior are needed. Consider improving infrastructure (faster trains with better connections Europe-wide) and making sustainable technologies affordable. Regulation is also to promote sustainable options (subsidies for green electricity) and limit unsustainable options (strict regulation of low-cost airlines). In other words, we need systemic change, making sustainable behavior the most logical and normal choice.

Behavior matters

For systemic change, ensuring fair distribution of benefits and burdens is important. More taxes on polluting behavior by the rich and more subsidies for people with little money can contribute to equitable policies. It is important to come together to search for desirable and feasible solutions, for example through a citizens’ council.

Sustainable behavior feels meaningful and makes people happy

The question is not whether to focus more on technology or behavior to achieve climate goals. Both are closely related, and both are badly needed. People are motivated to change their behavior and lifestyle, but this must be facilitated with careful policies. Behavioral and lifestyle change contributes to all of our well-being. Sustainable behavior feels meaningful and makes people happy. Participation in an energy cooperative can strengthen a community’s social cohesion and prevent loneliness. Decluttering your home reduces stress, and flying less for work leads to higher well-being. Sustainable behavior is also often healthy: driving less, for example, encourages people to exercise more.

All in all, more than enough reason for the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency to include technology and behavioral change in the calculation of trajectories towards a CO2-neutral Netherlands.

This piece was originally published in Sociale Vraagstukken on July 1.

Photo: Marek Piwnicki/Pexels

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Behavior change is essential for a CO2 neutral Netherlands

One-sided

Wrong assumption

Behavior matters