Quantifying energy footprint inequalities across different socio-economic segments in Spain

Abstract

To achieve the ambitious climate targets set for 2050, it is essential to understand the energy footprints resulting from different lifestyles. This research aims to analyse the variation in direct and embedded energy consumption across different Spanish autonomous communities and socio-economic segments. To do so, we combine the Global Multi-Regional Input-Output methodology (GMRIO) with microdata from Household Budget Surveys (HBS). The findings show that income, household size, and nationality significantly affect the energy footprint of individuals. High-income households have an energy footprint of up to 63.3 MWh·cap−1·yr−1, 75.0% higher than national average. Furthermore, individuals living alone show a 41.4% larger consumption than the national average. In contrast, households with foreign nationalities show an energy footprint of 24.7 MWh·cap−1·yr−1, a 31.8% reduction over national average. On the other hand, differences in gender, age, or municipality size do not play a significant role in energy footprint variations. The energy footprint and the Gross Domestic Product are significantly correlated, as wealthier regions have a TPEF of 17.6% above the national average, while poorer regions show a 31.6% decrease in footprint. Altogether, this work suggests ways to reduce energy consumption in lifestyles, providing specific actions in policy-making.