Temporality, consumption, and conflict: exploring user-based injustices in European low-carbon transitions

Figures & data

Table 1. Summary of data sources.

Country	Germany	Great Britain	Norway	Total N by type
Expert interviews (N)	16 (8 face-to-face, 8 phone); Interviewee reference = G00X	16 (9 face-to-face, 7 phone); Interviewee reference = GB00X	16 (12 face-to-face, 4 phone); Interviewee reference = N00X	48
Focus groups (N)	4*	2	6	12
Internet forums (N)	2	39	11	52
Total N by country	22	57	33

Source: Authors.

*Two groups.

Table 2. Qualitative summary of users and energy injustices.

Theme	Germany	GB	Norway	Energy justice principle
The temporality of adoption benefits	Users with financial capacity accessing early high FIT rates; users with land and capital installing large solar farms; everyone pays high electricity prices	Everyone subsidizes the rollout, even non-users who do not adopt a smart meter	Users with financial capacity to buy an EV access multiple early benefits; users who are able to buy multiple EVs and then sell them on due to long waiting lists	Recognition justice; Distributive justice
Rebounds and increasing consumption	Germany’s overall emissions are not going down despite increase in solar PV	Users consume more energy as a result of having a smart meter; rebound effects; increased use of smart technologies	Users buying more cars in Norway; EV users possibly driving more; environmental impact from EV construction	Distributive justice; Cosmopolitan justice
Conflict between different user groups	Conflict between those who have the means to install solar PV and access high FIT payments and those who do not have the same opportunity	Conflict between household members; users monitoring each other; domestic decision making	Conflict between those who drive EVs and access all benefits and those who do not (public transport users, pedestrians, fossil fuel car users); people living in flats	Recognition justice; Cosmopolitan justice

Source: Authors

Figure 1. Illustrative – though but not exclusive – traits of the ‘carbon literate’ early adopter.