Determinants and Stratification of Household Carbon Footprint Understanding the Prospect for Climate Change Mitigation and Socioeconomic Co-benefits

This book provides comprehensive insights into the socioeconomic systems, carbon accounting, and consumption-expenditure frameworks influencing household carbon footprints (HCF) in a developing economy. It offers a unique perspective on the link between socioeconomic classes, agro-ecological zones, and carbon emissions, specifically in the Indian context. 

Household consumption patterns play a critical role in determining greenhouse gas emissions and are increasingly recognized as vital for shaping effective climate policies. Various socio-economic, demographic, and lifestyle factors—such as household size, income, food habits, mobility choices, waste management practices, home appliances, and education—significantly impact HCF. While the IPCC mitigation framework focuses extensively on direct emissions from energy and product production, this book emphasizes indirect emissions driven by lifestyle choices and end-use consumption. The book is based on a PAN-India study across 13 diverse locations within nine agro-ecological regions, examining the socioeconomic and geo-climatic determinants of household carbon emissions. It explores the income-consumption relationship, providing strategies to leverage these insights for targeted decarbonization and sustainable development. Additionally, the book addresses the behavioral aspects of carbon footprints and offers policy recommendations to promote a "carbon handprint"—advocating for carbon-friendly behaviors and solutions that are socially acceptable. By segregating emissions from production and consumption, it aims to guide the development of comprehensive emission reduction strategies for various consumables. 

This volume is an essential resource for students, researchers, and policymakers interested in sustainable consumption, climate mitigation, and the socio-economic dimensions of carbon emissions in developing countries.

Chapter 1. Global Climate Dialogues: India’s Position and Perspectives.- Chapter 2. Household Carbon Footprint Assessment in India: Approaches and Challenges.- Chapter 3. Sectoral Contribution to HCF.- Chapter 4. Rural-Urban Disparity and Prospects for Emission Reduction.- Chapter 5. Behaviour, Perceptions and Knowledge of Households.- Chapter 6. Influence of Affluence and other Determinants of HCF.- Chapter 7. Impact of Changing Landscape Dynamics along Rural-Urban Interface.- Chapter 8. Case Studies from Western Himalaya and Southern Plateau.- Chapter 9. Impact of COVID-19 on Consumption Pattern of Indian Households.- Chapter 10. Sectoral Policy Insights for Household Emission Reduction.- Chapter 11. Way Forward.

Sunil Nautiyal (AvH-Fellow) is a Professor at the Centre for Ecological Economics and Natural Resources (CEENR), Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bengaluru and Honorary Professor at the University of Ladakh. Presently, Dr. Nautiyal is serving as Director, G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (NIHE), Almora, Uttarakhand, India. His specialization includes areas of Natural Resource Management and Conservation, Protected Area Management and HWC&C GIS and Remote Sensing for Landscape Research, Urban-rural interface and Sustainability, Climate Change, Socio-ecological Development (Socio-Ecologist). Dr. Nautiyal has published over 200 scientific papers/articles and 14 books/monographs. Dr. Nautiyal is a recipient of several national/international prestigious fellowships/awards. He is on the Editorial/Reviewer Board of several international/national journals. Dr. Nautiyal has been working in close coordination with scientists in India, Germany, UK, Australia, Japan, Bangladesh, and the USA. His research contribution has large policy implications in the area of socio-ecological development and biodiversity conservation.

Mrinalini Goswami is a researcher in ecological science and is associated with GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Centre for Ecological Economics and Natural Resources, Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bengaluru. She received her Ph.D. in Environmental Science for her research on sustainability of ecosystem-based livelihoods in peri-urban landscapes. She has been engaged in research on varied topics, including environmental sustainability, climate change, natural resource management, water management, and urban development. Dr. Goswami has published scientific papers/articles and books in the field of socio-ecology, environment and ecology. Dr. Goswami also has substantial work experience in the development sector, which has motivated her towards interdisciplinary approach in environmental research.

A. Premkumar is currently working as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Economics, Kristu Jayanti College (Autonomous), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. Prior to this, he worked on various research projects at the Centre for Ecological Economics and Natural Resources, Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bangalore. He received his Ph.D. in Economics from Thiruvalluvar University, Tamil Nadu. He specialized in Environmental Economics, mainly on Climate Change, Solid Waste Management, and Household Carbon Footprint. To his credit, he has written and published several articles in Scopus and UGC Care-listed journals. He has also presented many research papers at international and national conferences.