Do People Respond to the Climate Impact of their Behavior? The Effect of Carbon Footprint Information on Grocery Purchases

Research output: Working paper › Research

Standard

Do People Respond to the Climate Impact of their Behavior? The Effect of Carbon Footprint Information on Grocery Purchases. / Fosgaard, Toke R.; Pizzo, Alice; Sadoff, Sally.

Department of Food and Resource Economics, University of Copenhagen, 2021.

Research output: Working paper › Research

Harvard

Fosgaard, TR, Pizzo, A & Sadoff, S 2021 'Do People Respond to the Climate Impact of their Behavior? The Effect of Carbon Footprint Information on Grocery Purchases' Department of Food and Resource Economics, University of Copenhagen.

APA

Fosgaard, T. R., Pizzo, A., & Sadoff, S. (2021). Do People Respond to the Climate Impact of their Behavior? The Effect of Carbon Footprint Information on Grocery Purchases. Department of Food and Resource Economics, University of Copenhagen. IFRO Working Paper No. 2021/05

Vancouver

Fosgaard TR, Pizzo A, Sadoff S. Do People Respond to the Climate Impact of their Behavior? The Effect of Carbon Footprint Information on Grocery Purchases. Department of Food and Resource Economics, University of Copenhagen. 2021.

Author

Fosgaard, Toke R. ; Pizzo, Alice ; Sadoff, Sally. / Do People Respond to the Climate Impact of their Behavior? The Effect of Carbon Footprint Information on Grocery Purchases. Department of Food and Resource Economics, University of Copenhagen, 2021. (IFRO Working Paper; No. 2021/05).

Bibtex

@techreport{892552153bfa4b21bf0c8ef8b74da174,
title = "Do People Respond to the Climate Impact of their Behavior?: The Effect of Carbon Footprint Information on Grocery Purchases",
abstract = "Food production is a primary contributor to climate change with greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions varying widely across food groups. In a randomized experiment, we examine the impact of providing individualized information on the GHG emissions of grocery purchases via a smartphone app, compared to providing information on spending. Carbon footprint information decreases GHG emissions from groceries by an estimated 27% in the first month of treatment, with an estimated 45% reduction in emissions from beef, the highest emissions food group. Treatment effects fade in the longer-run along with app engagement. However, we find evidence of persistent effects among those who remain engaged with the app. Our results suggest that individualized carbon footprint information can reduce the climate impact of food consumption but requires sustained engagement.",
author = "Fosgaard, {Toke R.} and Alice Pizzo and Sally Sadoff",
year = "2021",
language = "English",
series = "IFRO Working Paper",
publisher = "Department of Food and Resource Economics, University of Copenhagen",
number = "2021/05",
type = "WorkingPaper",
institution = "Department of Food and Resource Economics, University of Copenhagen",

}

RIS

TY - UNPB

T1 - Do People Respond to the Climate Impact of their Behavior?

T2 - The Effect of Carbon Footprint Information on Grocery Purchases

AU - Fosgaard, Toke R.

AU - Pizzo, Alice

AU - Sadoff, Sally

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - Food production is a primary contributor to climate change with greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions varying widely across food groups. In a randomized experiment, we examine the impact of providing individualized information on the GHG emissions of grocery purchases via a smartphone app, compared to providing information on spending. Carbon footprint information decreases GHG emissions from groceries by an estimated 27% in the first month of treatment, with an estimated 45% reduction in emissions from beef, the highest emissions food group. Treatment effects fade in the longer-run along with app engagement. However, we find evidence of persistent effects among those who remain engaged with the app. Our results suggest that individualized carbon footprint information can reduce the climate impact of food consumption but requires sustained engagement.

AB - Food production is a primary contributor to climate change with greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions varying widely across food groups. In a randomized experiment, we examine the impact of providing individualized information on the GHG emissions of grocery purchases via a smartphone app, compared to providing information on spending. Carbon footprint information decreases GHG emissions from groceries by an estimated 27% in the first month of treatment, with an estimated 45% reduction in emissions from beef, the highest emissions food group. Treatment effects fade in the longer-run along with app engagement. However, we find evidence of persistent effects among those who remain engaged with the app. Our results suggest that individualized carbon footprint information can reduce the climate impact of food consumption but requires sustained engagement.

M3 - Working paper

T3 - IFRO Working Paper

BT - Do People Respond to the Climate Impact of their Behavior?

PB - Department of Food and Resource Economics, University of Copenhagen

ER -

ID: 272424419