Rethinking personal carbon trading (PCT) mechanism: A comprehensive review

Yun-En Tang; Ru Fan; Ang-Zu Cai; Le-Yi Wang; Rui-Min Lin; Xiang-Zhou Meng; Ling Chen; Ru Guo

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118478

Rethinking personal carbon trading (PCT) mechanism: A comprehensive review

J Environ Manage. 2023 Oct 15:344:118478. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118478. Epub 2023 Jun 30.

Authors

Yun-En Tang¹, Ru Fan², Ang-Zu Cai², Le-Yi Wang², Rui-Min Lin², Xiang-Zhou Meng³, Ling Chen⁴, Ru Guo⁵

Affiliations

¹ College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Carbon Neutrality, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China; Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200092, China.
² College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Carbon Neutrality, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
³ College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Carbon Neutrality, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China; Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200092, China; Jiaxing-Tongji Environmental Research Institute, 1994 Linggongtang Road, Jiaxing, 314051, Zhejiang Province, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai, 200092, China.
⁴ College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Carbon Neutrality, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai, 200092, China.
⁵ College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Carbon Neutrality, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China; Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200092, China; Key Laboratory of Cities Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change in Shanghai, Shanghai, 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai, 200092, China. Electronic address: ruguo@tongji.edu.cn.

PMID: 37393876
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118478

Abstract

The implementation of Personal Carbon Trading (PCT) holds promise in facilitating a noteworthy contribution towards the attainment of emissions reduction predicated on consumption patterns and consequently motivating lifestyle modifications. As individual consumption behaviors usually lead to continuous changes in carbon emissions, it is crucial to rethink PCT from a systematic perspective. This review employed a bibliometric analysis of 1423 papers related to PCT, highlighting the key themes of carbon emissions from energy consumption, climate change, and public opinion on policies in the context of PCT. Most of the existing PCT researches focus on theoretical assumptions and public attitudes, while the quantification of carbon emissions and simulation of PCT require further investigation. Furthermore, the concept of Tan Pu Hui is seldom addressed in PCT studies and case analyses. Moreover, there are limited PCT schemes worldwide that can be directly implemented in practice, leading to a scarcity of large-scale, high-participation case studies. To address these gaps, this review proposes a framework to clarify how PCT can stimulate individual emission reductions on the consumption side, comprising two phases, from motivation to behavior and behavior to target. Future endeavors should prioritize the enhancement of the systematic study of the theoretical foundation of PCT, encompassing carbon emissions accounting and policy design, the incorporation of cutting-edge technology, and the reinforcement of integrated policy practice. This review serves as a valuable reference for future research endeavors and policymaking efforts.

Keywords: Carbon emissions accounting; Implementation; Personal carbon trading; Policy design; Tan Pu Hui.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Carbon Dioxide / analysis
Carbon*
China
Climate Change
Computer Simulation
Policy Making*

Substances

Carbon
Carbon Dioxide