Nina Chestney, Reuters 2 Sep 09;
LONDON (Reuters) - People want to save the planet but are unwilling to make radical lifestyle changes like giving up air travel or red meat to reduce the effects of climate change, a straw poll by Reuters showed.
As leaders gear up for another round of climate change talks later this month in New York, motivating people to change their lifestyles will be crucial in ensuring cuts in planet-warming greenhouse gases, experts say.
Over 40 percent of Britain's carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, the main greenhouse gas causing climate change, come from the energy we use at home and in traveling.
A straw poll of 15 British men and 15 British women between the ages of 25-75 in central London, showed all were willing to make small changes for the environment, such as recycling, but few would commit to more fundamental changes to behavior.
"I try to minimize using my car but I wouldn't give it up," a 42-year-old man, Emerald Wijesinthe, told Reuters.
Changing small habits like leaving appliances on standby are relatively easy, but more radical changes face resistance.
"We know from plenty of evidence in social, personality, and clinical psychology that people generally do not like to change their identities - they prefer stability," Tim Kasser, psychology professor at Knox College in Illinois, told Reuters.
Tapping into gender differences could help focus energy efficiency measures and deliver better results.
"Women are more likely to be energy conscious and willing to make habit-related changes, whereas men are more likely to make investments in more efficient equipment," said Sarah Darby, research fellow at UK Research Council's Energy Programme.
All the women interviewed in the straw poll said they made efforts to reduce energy use, compared with 60 percent of men.
Seventy percent of men said they were unwilling to change their lifestyles, compared with just 10 percent of women.
"I make sure the house isn't overheated, lower our meat intake and grow vegetables," said 71-year old Rosie Hughes.
Eighteen percent of all greenhouse gas emissions is due to meat production, according to the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation.
Research suggests women in general show more empathy and concern for the greater good than men, Kasser added, which made them more likely to think about the impacts of their daily behavior on the environment.
In fact, appealing to people's altruistic side is likely to spur people to make fundamental changes, rather than motivation from financial concerns, and advertisers can play an important role in encouraging greener lifestyles.
"Climate change is now a marketing challenge as well as a scientific one," said Ian Curtis, founder of Oxfordshire climate project ClimateXchange.
(Editing by Sue Thomas)
FACTBOX: Impacts, savings from cutting UK energy use
Reuters 2 Sep 09;
LONDON (Reuters) - Over 40 percent of Britain's carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, the main greenhouse gas causing climate change, come from the energy we use at home and in traveling.
As politicians gear up for more climate change talks later this month in New York, changing people's attitudes toward energy consumption could be key in reducing emissions.
The average British home emits around five and a half tonnes of carbon dioxide every year, twice the amount of a car.
Homes could save 1.5 tonnes of CO2, equivalent to 300 pounds a year, by insulating, improving their heating system and being energy efficient. Businesses could save over 2.5 billion pounds a year through carbon reduction measures, such as replacing oil boilers or installing new lighting.
The impacts of energy consumption in Britain and some potential savings are set out below.
HOUSEHOLDS
Leaving appliances and gadgets on standby wastes as much electricity as the annual output of two 700 megawatt power stations.
We waste over 600,000 tonnes of CO2 a year, equal to 170 million pounds, by leaving lights on unnecessarily.
Over 700,000 tonnes a year of CO2 is wasted by people overfilling their kettles. If people boiled only the water needed each time, we could save enough electricity in a year to run Britain's street lighting for nearly 7 months.
Britain could save 180 mega liters of water a day - enough to supply nearly 500,000 homes, by turning taps off while brushing teeth.
If we stopped wasting food which could have been eaten, we could save 18 million tonnes of CO2, the equivalent of taking one in five cars off our roads.
If everyone reduced their thermostat by one degree centigrade we could save 5.5 million tonnes of CO2, the same reduction as taking 1.8 million cars off the road.
Installing cavity wall insulation could cut CO2 by nearly 4 million tonnes. That's enough to fill Wembley stadium 500 times.
Drying clothes outside in the summer, rather than using tumble driers, would save as much CO2 as taking 240,000 cars off the roads.
Upgrading fridges and freezers to energy saving recommended products could save over 700 million pounds of electricity every year. This could power UK street lighting for three years.
BUSINESSES
Air conditioning can increase a building' energy consumption and CO2 emissions by 100 percent.
Switching off lights in corridors and rooms not being used could cut lighting costs by 15 percent.
A seven-day timer on shared equipment such as printers, vending machines and water coolers could save up to 70 percent on energy costs.
A single computer and monitor left on for 24 hours a day could cost over 50 pounds a year. Switching it off out of hours could reduce this to 15 pounds. Upgrading IT can bring substantial CO2 reductions.
Maintaining boilers regularly could save firms 10 percent on annual heating costs.
Sources: Energy Saving Trust www.energysavingtrust.org.uk, The Carbon Trust www.carbontrust.co.uk
(Reporting by Nina Chestney)
