title: The changing effect of economic development on the consumption-based carbon intensity of well-being, 1990-2008.
abstract: Recent sustainability science research focuses on tradeoffs between human well-being and stress placed on the environment from fossil fuel consumption, a relationship known as the carbon intensity of well-being (CIWB). In this study we assess how the effect of economic development on consumption-based CIWB--a ratio of consumption-based carbon dioxide emissions to average life expectancy--changed from 1990 to 2008 for 69 nations throughout the world. We examine the effect of development on consumption-based CIWB for the overall sample as well as for smaller samples restricted to mostly high-income OECD nations, Non-OECD nations, and more nuanced regional samples of Non-OECD nations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. We find that the effect of economic development on CIWB increased through time for the overall sample. However, analyses of the Non-OECD and OECD samples indicate that while the effect of development on CIWB increased from null to a moderate level for the Non-OECD nations, the effect of economic development was much larger, relatively stable through time, and more unsustainable for the OECD nations. Additional findings reveal important regional differences for Non-OECD nations. In the early 1990s, increased development led to a reduction in CIWB for Non-OECD nations in Africa, but in more recent years the relationship changed, becoming less sustainable. For the samples of Non-OECD nations in Asia and Latin America, we find that economic development increased consumption-based CIWB, and increasingly so throughout the 19 year period of study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology and Environmental Studies Program, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Andrew K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Jorgenson
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Givens
mesh_terms: D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D058572:Carbon Footprint / Q000191:economics*; D019049:Developed Countries / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057217:Economic Development
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide