individual CO2 emissions increase with age in the European Union, study finds

The CO2 emissions of each individual increase with age, according to a study on the European Union published Wednesday September 27 by the National Institute of Demographic Studies (INED). “The share of emissions attributable to elderly people will increase in the years to come because they emit more and will be more numerous,” underline the authors of this study, entitled “How does demography influence climate change? The case of Europe”.

This work analyzes the relationships between demography and climate change, particularly in the EU, which has committed to achieving climate neutrality in 2050 to address the acceleration of global warming caused by human activities. “Our results reveal the determining effect of age: individual emissions are higher at older ages”write the three authors of the study.

A challenge for climate policies

At the household level, CO2 emissions increase with the age of the reference person* and “reach a peak between 45 and 49 years old”, then gradually decrease. On the other hand, when emissions are estimated individually, the peak of emissions shifts towards more advanced ages, around 75 years, according to the authors, who see an additional challenge for climate policies in the context of an aging European population.

Older people contribute more to emissions “because they live in small households and concentrate their spending on carbon-intensive goods”, like heating, note the authors. This trend will not necessarily lead to a significant increase in emissions, but it highlights “the importance for public policies to take into account inequalities between generations”.

* Defined by INED as “the member of the household who is at least 16 years old and who contributes the most to the total household income”