Measuring carbon capability beyond the carbon footprint

Journal article

Meeting climate action targets requires both individual and systemic change. Behaviour change can contribute to system change through actions in the public sphere, including influence and citizenship. However, current measurement approaches, such as personal carbon footprints, emphasise individual consumption and underrepresent public-sphere contributions. This study operationalises a framework which integrates individuals’ motivation and capacity to reduce emissions within broader systems of provision. We present a methodology to quantify public-sphere actions and capabilities alongside consumption behaviours, generating a comprehensive capability score. Applying this approach to a representative survey UK residents (N = 2001), we find moderate-to-low climate action capability, with the lowest scores in transport, food, and civic domains. Regression analyses indicate gender, education, and climate knowledge predict higher capability. This methodology offers an integrated tool to assess both private and public climate actions, informing strategies for more effective engagement and policy interventions.

Authors: Ghura, A; Hampton, S; Whitmarsh, L

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group UK
• Journal: Communications Sustainability
• Volume: 1
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 18
• Article number: 18
• Publication date: 2026-01-21
• Acceptance date: 2025-10-29
• DOI: 10.1038/s44458-025-00015-5
• EISSN: 3059-4308
• ISSN: 3059-4308
• Language: English
• Keywords: Climate change; Carbon footprint; Consumption (sociology); Action (physics); Greenhouse gas; Climate system; Public policy