杏吧原创

If only Americans would hang their laundry out to dry 鈥� and commit 16 other acts of environmental kindness 鈥� they could slash US carbon dioxide emissions by 7.4聽per cent by 2019.

of Michigan State University in East Lansing and his team calculated the carbon-saving impact of 17 practices, such as eschewing tumble dryers, car pooling and buying fuel-efficient vehicles (see the full list below).

By drawing on previous studies, Dietz estimated what proportion of the population could realistically be persuaded to change their behaviour using financial incentives, mass-media campaigns and so forth. For example, 90聽per cent of Americans are likely to take up better home insulation, though only 15聽per cent would go in for car pooling.

The team found that by 2019, US households could cut their annual emissions by 20聽per cent 鈥� representing slightly more CO₂ than France spews out each year.

Canada and Australia should pay attention, too: Dietz reasons that these two countries, 鈥渨hich have carbon profiles roughly comparable to that of the US鈥�, may be able to achieve similar savings.

Everyday shift

鈥淭his study is the best estimate we have to date of how effectively behavioural change could cut US greenhouse gas emissions,鈥� says , who leads , a group based at Kingston University in London that investigates ways in which people鈥檚 behaviour could be influenced.

鈥淓veryday household practices 鈥� for example tumble drying or using air conditioning 鈥� are resistant to change because they are embedded in conceptions of comfort and convenience,鈥� says Rettie. 鈥淏ut with the right combination of policy tools and social marketing, interventions can result in major behaviour changes.鈥�

Journal reference: