Understanding the barriers and impacts of green choices on people with protected characteristic

The UK wants to achieve a just net zero transition that results in a more affordable, clean and equitable energy system. The impacts of this transition, whether negative or positive, direct or indirect, will not be the same for everyone

It is important to understand the potential distributional impacts of any action taken and who can make green choices in this transition. Existing research has assessed these impacts, but may have over-simplified them by categorising groups based only on economic metrics. Analysing impacts across different income levels can be useful, as the cost of the transition is likely to be disproportionally higher for people and households with lower incomes. However, previous analysis has assumed that the impacts, challenges and barriers are the same for all the people within the same income group, without taking any other characteristics into account.

This Energy Demand Research Centre (EDRC) project looked at the changes needed to buildings and transport in a net zero transition, focusing on the impacts on people who may be vulnerable and/ or have protected characteristics under the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED).

1. People with protected characteristics are more likely to live in flats and to rent. This presents challenges to making green choices, such as installing heat pumps or electric vehicle charging points.
2. People with protected characteristics, such as people from ethnic minorities, are more likely to use public transport and have less flexibility in their travel needs though this is not uniform across all protected characteristics. However, they are more likely to be impacted by cost increases or changes to their transport.
3. There is a link between protected characteristics and low incomes, presenting a greater risk of inequities in home heating and transport use. People with disabilities and older people, for example, can have higher energy needs due to requiring medical equipment or increased heating
4. Non-economic factors may disproportionately affect people with protected characteristics. Non-economic, practical and/or administrative issues, driven by structural inequalities, may create barriers for people with disabilities or older people, for example, or for those living in flats or dwellings with no off-street parking and those who rent.
5. Non-economic barriers need further recognition in net zero policy. Net zero policies need to consider non-economic barriers and go beyond financial incentives. This means policies that are more flexible, agile, targeted and tailored to different people’s needs