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Q14. Did the “New Normal” result in less CO₂ emissions? Or more?

The anticipated changes never materialized.

Answered by Alexandros Gasparatos

Associate Professor,
Ecological Economics

Staying holed up at home is not necessarily good for the environment

Our lifestyles dramatically changed in 2020 as the COVID-19 virus started to spread. After Japan declared a state of emergency that April, many people refrained from venturing outside and remote working increased. Believing that such unprecedented sudden changes in consumer behavior should also have had an impact on the natural environment, I analyzed greenhouse gas emissions originating from Japanese household consumption together with Assistant Professor Long Yin of the Graduate School of Engineering and others, but found no major difference in total emissions compared to before the pandemic. Using data covering January to May 2020 and comparing it with that for the same months from 2015 to 2019, we estimated the carbon footprint — the greenhouse gas emissions throughout the life cycle — of around 500 consumer products and services, from foodstuffs such as fish and vegetables, to clothing, transportation costs and electricity charges.

Although total emissions were similar, a more detailed look at the results revealed certain trends. As people kept themselves from going outside during the state of emergency, they spent less on things such as dining out, clothing and entertainment, and the carbon footprint for these items fell sharply. In contrast, increases were seen for processed foods and meats, alcohol, dairy products and almost all food categories, as people stayed holed up in their homes. In the meantime, household spending on electricity and gas supplies stayed roughly the same. In other words, a trade-off between items with rising and falling carbon footprints was generated as the pandemic disrupted everyday life and our consumption patterns changed. Since the increases and decreases offset each other, there was no major difference in overall emissions compared to before the COVID-19 crisis. This demonstrates that simply reducing our daily activities will not in itself reduce the burden on the environment and that we also need to think about what and how we consume. I think it is important to teach people in what way they need to change their consumer habits. This is also one of the keys to realizing the carbon-neutral society envisioned by the Japanese government.

Ecological economics analyzes the influence exerted by human activity on ecosystems, and the influence exerted by changes in ecosystems on society and the economy. Part of my current research is focused on the relationship between nature and human wellbeing (physical and mental health and happiness). I am trying to understand if our experiences in nature — such as when we see beautiful scenery or go for a walk in a park or botanical garden — help to increase our sense of wellbeing, which is difficult to quantify. I hope to contribute to society by using my research to better understand the world and determine what does and doesn’t work well.