ANALYSIS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF YOUNG PEOPLE’S CONSUMPTION BEHAVIOR FOR 1989, 2004, AND 2014

Abstract

 This study aims to clarify the direct and indirect CO₂ emissions derived from consumption expenditures of head of household under the age of 35 for 1989, 2004, and 2014. An accounting table that represents their consumption expenditures was created by integrating results obtained from the “Family Income and Expenditure Survey” and the “National Survey of Family Income and Expenditure.” The indirect CO₂ emissions derived from consumption expenditures were estimated by multiplying each item of the accounting table and the CO₂ intensity coefficient. The actual value of the CO₂ emissions derived from fuel utilization in housing was applied as the direct CO₂ emission.

 As a result, annual indirect CO₂ emissions of households of two or more persons for 1989, 2004 and 2014 were 6.7 t-CO₂, 8.5 t-CO₂, and 8.6 t-CO₂, respectively. A time-series comparison revealed that the indirect CO₂ emissions derived from communications for households of two or more persons increased more than six times from 1989 to 2014. This result indicates that it is necessary to reduce indirect CO₂ emission accompanying the progress of information and communication technology.