Public attitudes to personal carbon allowances: findings from a mixed-method study

Abstract

This article investigates public support for, and responses to, personal carbon allowances (PCAs) using questionnaires and semi-structured interviews in the English Midlands. The questionnaires showed that support for and opposition to PCAs were approximately equal. The effects on support of a number of factors were investigated, including household and dwelling variables, past energy behaviours, and the respondents' anticipated behaviours under an allowance system. Support was influenced by only three variables: (i) attitudes towards subsidies of renewable energy and energy efficiency measures in homes; (ii) anticipated behaviours regarding the use of public transport (and cycling); and (iii) anticipated behaviours regarding the sale of carbon units. Interviews explored the understanding of, the support for, and the opposition to PCAs, as well as trust and the effect of living alone. Among the interviewees, support for PCAs outweighed opposition. Understanding of PCAs was fairly good, but the buying of units was a topic that interviewees tended to misunderstand. A key finding is that public acceptability may not present an insurmountable obstacle to implementing personal carbon trading.