Living better and longer while reducing resource use and emissions

A new study by REMASS team members Helmut Haberl, Benedikt Grammer, Shonali Pachauri, Fridolin Krausmann, Jan Streeck and Dominik Wiedenhofer shows that moderate levels of resource requirements and emissions suffice to enable countries to provide inhabitants with services required for a good life.

The analysis is based on the indicator 'years of good life' (YoGL) measuring the number of years an average inhabitant of a country may expect to live above absolute poverty, enjoying good health and life satisfaction.

A global panel analysis was conducted to analyze the relationships YoGL and resource requirements as well as emissions. While economic growth helps poorer countries achieve more YoGL, this effect saturates as countries become more affluent. Resource use in itself does not lead to more YoGL, rather it is a prerequisite for providing the services that help people to live longer and better lives.

In high-YoGL countries, per-capita GDP becomes less important, while other factors, in particular education and ambient air quality assume a large role. Cross-country analyses suggest that health expenditures and low inequality are also key factors supporting high YoGL.
Highest YoGL are found in countries with intermediate levels of resource use and emissions. The results imply that raising wellbeing for all while reducing resource use and emissions will require moving beyond simple 'decoupling' and resource-use efficiency approaches.

Read the full paper here.