Demand-side policies for sufficiency: a multi-solving strategy

Speakers:

• Frauke Wiese, Europa-Universität Flensburg
• Johannes Thema, Wuppertal Institute
• Carina Zell-Ziegler, Oeko-Institut

Abstract: An integrated sufficiency strategy for energy and climate policy would significantly reduce the challenges on the way to climate neutrality. Reducing final energy demand through demand-side measures eases the pressure on expansion rates of renewables and grid, resources and land. As sufficiency is a strategy to reduce consumption and production levels through changes in social practices to stay within ecological limits and provide a social foundation for all, it requires appropriate policy frameworks. At present, there are many barriers to sufficiency-oriented development. Examples include subsidies for new housing, privileges for motorised individual mobility, and incentives for the production of non-repairable products. In this webinar, we will provide an overview of targets, strategies and indicators per sector for sufficiency-oriented development, as well as examples of concrete policy measures, including practical examples.

The Energy Demand changes Induced by Technological and Social innovations (EDITS) project is an initiative coordinated by the Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (RITE) and International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), and funded by Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), Japan.