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https://theconversation.com/not-keeping-up-with-the-joneses-the-one-factor-that-makes-us-less-likely-to-emulate-our-neighbours-on-climate-action-176372>
"About 30% of Australian homes have rooftop solar panels installed – the
highest uptake of any nation. Their popularity has been helped along by
government subsidies that reduce the upfront costs of the technology.
But these subsidies may not always have a positive climate impact. While people
like to “keep up with the Joneses” on climate action, my recent research
suggests this is not always the case when large solar subsidies are being
offered.
It found if someone is perceived as having installed solar panels primarily for
a financial benefit, their non-solar neighbours may actually be deterred from
reducing their own climate impact – such as by signing up for so-called “green”
retail electricity schemes.
Subsidies are often a policy go-to for governments wanting to encourage more
climate-friendly behaviours. But my findings indicate they should be used with
caution."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
