From constraint to sufficiency: The decoupling of energy and carbon from human needs, 1975–2005

• Published in: Ecological economics Vol. 70; no. 2; pp. 425 - 433
• Main Authors: Steinberger, Julia K., Roberts, J. Timmons
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.12.2010; Elsevier
• Series: Ecological Economics
• Subjects: Basic needs; Carbon emissions; Energy consumption; Energy threshold for human needs; Goldemberg corner; Human development; Human Development Index; IPAT; Low–carbon development pathways; Measurement; Standard of living; Sustainable development; Sustainable development Low-carbon development pathways IPAT Human Development Index Energy threshold for human needs Goldemberg corner; Goldemberg corner; IPAT; Energy threshold for human needs; Sustainable development; Low–carbon development pathways; Human Development Index
• ISSN: 0921-8009; 1873-6106
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2010.09.014

We investigate the relationship between human needs, energy consumption and carbon emissions for several indicators of human development: life expectancy, literacy, income and the Human Development Index. We find that high human development can be achieved at moderate energy and carbon levels; increasing energy and carbon past this level does not necessarily contribute to higher living standards. By conducting a novel longitudinal analysis from 1975 to 2005, we observe a previously undetected decoupling of the per capita energy and carbon required for human needs. If resources were equally distributed, current energy and carbon levels would be more than sufficient to satisfy global human needs at high levels of human development. By projecting current trends to 2030, we demonstrate that the global energy consumption and carbon emissions required to satisfy human needs will decrease with time, despite growth in population.