Fair decarbonisation of housing in the UK: a sufficiency approach

Gough, Ian ORCID: 0000-0002-0597-3106, Horn, Stefan, Rogers, Charlotte and Tunstall, Rebecca (2024) Fair decarbonisation of housing in the UK: a sufficiency approach. CASEpaper (232). Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion, London, UK.

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Abstract

This paper addresses a neglected aspect of the UK housing crisis: how to rapidly but fairly decarbonise the housing stock to meet tough net zero targets while meeting housing needs of the entire population. To do so the authors adopt a radical approach based on sufficiency. The sufficiency approach is based on determining both a housing floor – a decent minimum standard for all – and a housing ceiling - above which lies unsustainable excess. The authors define these thresholds in terms of bedrooms and floorspace and analyse the distribution of housing in England. They find that excess housing is widespread, concentrated in home ownership, particularly outright ownership, and characterised by above average emissions per square metre. They conclude that current policies based solely on energy efficiency and increasing housing supply cannot achieve agreed decarbonisation goals while securing decent accommodation for those who are housing deprived. To do this will require new policies that distinguish between sufficient and excess housing and more effective use of the housing stock to meet housing needs within planetary boundaries.

Item Type:	Monograph (Working Paper)
Official URL:	http://sticerd.lse.ac.uk/case/
Additional Information:	© 2024 The Author(s)
Divisions:	Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion STICERD
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HC Economic History and Conditions H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor T Technology > TH Building construction
JEL classification:	R - Urban, Rural, and Regional Economics > R2 - Household Analysis > R21 - Housing Demand
Date Deposited:	22 Mar 2024 15:21
Last Modified:	22 Mar 2024 15:27
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/122477

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