Potential Climate Benefits of Digital Consumer Innovations

Wilson, C. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8164-3566, Kerr, L., Sprei, F., Vrain, E., & Wilson, M. (2020). Potential Climate Benefits of Digital Consumer Innovations. Annual Review of Environment and Resources 45 (1) 113-144. 10.1146/annurev-environ-012320-082424.

Preview

Text annurev-environ-012320-082424.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract

Digitalization has opened up a wealth of new goods and services with strong consumer appeal alongside potential emission-reduction benefits. Examples range from shared, on-demand electric mobility and peer-to-peer trading of electricity, food, and cars to grid-responsive smart appliances and heating systems. In this review, we identify an illustrative sample of 33 digital consumer innovations that challenge emission-intensive mainstream consumption practices in mobility, food, homes, and energy domains. Across these domains, digital innovations offer consumers a range of potentially appealing attributes from control, choice, and convenience to independence, interconnectedness, and integration with systems. We then compile quantitative estimates of change in activity, energy, or emissions as a result of consumers adopting digital innovations. This novel synthesis of the evidence base shows clear but variable potential emission-reduction benefits of digital consumer innovations. However, a small number of studies show emission increases from specific innovations as a result of induced demand or substitution effects that need careful management by public policy. We also consider how concurrent adoption of digital consumer innovations across mobility, food, homes, and energy domains can cause broader disruptive impacts on regulatory frameworks, norms, and infrastructures. We conclude by arguing for the importance of public policy in steering the digitalization of consumer goods and services toward low-carbon outcomes.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	consumers, digital innovations, climate change, mobility, food, homes, energy
Research Programs:	Energy, Climate, and Environment (ECE) Energy, Climate, and Environment (ECE) > Sustainable Service Systems (S3) Energy, Climate, and Environment (ECE) > Transformative Institutional and Social Solutions (TISS)
Depositing User:	Luke Kirwan
Date Deposited:	13 Jun 2022 13:27
Last Modified:	13 Jun 2022 13:27
URI:	https://pure.iiasa.ac.at/18061

Actions (login required)

View Item