Energy, Economic Growth and Environmental Sustainability: Five Propositions

Sorrell, Steve

doi:10.3390/su2061784

Cited by 118 publications

(67 citation statements)

References 86 publications

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“…The effect refers to the tendency for total demand for energy decrease less than expected after energy efficiency improvements are introduced, due to the resultant decrease in the cost of energy services [22,77]. Ignoring or underestimating this effect whilst planning policies may lead to inaccurate forecasts and unrealistic expectations of the outcomes, which, in turn, lead to significant errors in the calculations of policies' payback periods [92].…”

Section: Rebound Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The barriers to low-carbon land-transport and policies to overcome them

Lah

2015

Eur. Transp. Res. Rev.

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Considerable efficiency gains can be made costeffectively to set the transport sector on a sustainable development pathway. They can be achieved through already available technologies and practices, which will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions significantly, but also generate social, environmental and economic co-benefits. However, progress in the take-up of low-carbon mobility measures substantially lags behind the potential. A number of barriers contribute to this lack of uptake. This paper explores those barriers by focusing on vehicle fuel efficiency in particular, but will also touch on the wider policy framework to improve the efficiency of the transport sector and reduce emissions. The paper suggests that a combination of fuel pricing, differentiated vehicle taxation, vehicle standards and the provision of modal choice are necessary to minimise rebound effects and significantly curb transport sector greenhouse gas emissions at low-or even negative cost.

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Section: Rebound Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The barriers to low-carbon land-transport and policies to overcome them

Lah

2015

Eur. Transp. Res. Rev.

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“…Recent studies suggest that this is due to economy-wide rebound effects, which compensate gains in productivity in most parts [22]. From an economist's perspective it is necessary that gains in efficiency are used or reinvested in order to yield additional benefits.…”

Section: Efficiencymentioning

confidence: 99%

Microfoundations for Sustainable Growth with Eco-Intelligent Product Service-Arrangements

2013

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This paper argues that the contemporary growth paradigm needs to be reconsidered on a micro level of consumption and product service-systems. This becomes necessary since a dynamic link between macro strategies and micro implementation of sustainable growth is missing up to date. Therefore, mainstream sustainability strategies of efficiency and consistency are extended by sufficiency in order to integrate strategies for individual welfare within their social environment. Limits to and drivers for growth are revised and updated socially in terms of qualitative values, diminishing marginal utility or symbolic social distinction. We elaborate a definition of sustainable growth that fosters individual welfare by enhancing social enactment within the boundaries of environmental space. Shifting focus on social aspects in design fosters more sustainable production and consumption patterns while sustaining individual welfare. We derive latent indications for eco-intelligent product service-arrangements and evaluate to concepts by referring to introduced definitions and according indications. With doing so, we illustrate new pathways for the translation of sustainable growth and strategies into product service-systems.

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“…This transition to high-ERR resources is a complex interaction of economic growth, technological change, and capital investment. For example, Sorrell [26] describes the intertwined processes that occurred early in the industrial revolution, whereby some of the energy mined as coal was reinvested into coal extraction, either directly (e.g., to run steam engines in order to de-water deep coal mines) or indirectly (in the form of steel for railways used as coal transport infrastructure). This positive feedback, driven by a high ERR resource, allowed the industrial system to push coal energy supply into all forms of industrial activity.…”

Section: The Usefulness Of Energy Return Ratiosmentioning

confidence: 99%

A General Mathematical Framework for Calculating Systems-Scale Efficiency of Energy Extraction and Conversion: Energy Return on Investment (EROI) and Other Energy Return Ratios

Brandt

Dale

2011

Energies

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The efficiencies of energy extraction and conversion systems are typically expressed using energy return ratios (ERRs) such as the net energy ratio (NER) or energy return on investment (EROI). A lack of a general mathematical framework prevents inter-comparison of NER/EROI estimates between authors: methods used are not standardized, nor is there a framework for succinctly reporting results in a consistent fashion. In this paper we derive normalized mathematical forms of four ERRs for energy extraction and conversion pathways. A bottom-up (process model) formulation is developed for an n-stage energy harvesting and conversion pathway with various system boundaries. Formations with the broadest system boundaries use insights from life cycle analysis to suggest a hybrid process model/economic input output based framework. These models include indirect energy consumption due to external energy inputs and embodied energy in materials. Illustrative example results are given for simple energy extraction and conversion pathways. Lastly, we discuss the limitations of this approach and the intersection of this methodology with "top-down" economic approaches.

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Energy, Economic Growth and Environmental Sustainability: Five Propositions

Cited by 118 publications

References 86 publications

The barriers to low-carbon land-transport and policies to overcome them

The barriers to low-carbon land-transport and policies to overcome them

Microfoundations for Sustainable Growth with Eco-Intelligent Product Service-Arrangements

A General Mathematical Framework for Calculating Systems-Scale Efficiency of Energy Extraction and Conversion: Energy Return on Investment (EROI) and Other Energy Return Ratios

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