No.32 Infrastructure Development and Carbon Footprints of Household Consumption in India

Infrastructure development plays a critical role in enhancing quality of life by providing essential services. However, it can also promote consumption and increase environmental burdens. While infrastructure may influence the sustainability of consumption through its effects on social practices, few empirical studies have comprehensively examined these impacts. This study focuses on Uttar Pradesh, India, and analyzes how household consumption behaviors differ across regions with varying stages of infrastructure development, including electricity, water supply, sewage systems, piped natural gas, and transportation. The study further investigates how these differences affect household carbon footprints (CF). The results indicate that regions with more advanced infrastructure exhibit higher household CFs, primarily due to increased electricity usage and fossil fuel consumption for transportation. To improve quality of life while mitigating environmental impacts, it is essential to offer options that facilitate low-CF consumption behaviors during the early stages of infrastructure development, particularly in the areas of electricity, housing, and transportation. Additionally, policy interventions and public awareness initiatives are needed to shape social practices that encourage sustainable consumption.

Keywords: Sustainable Consumption, Household Carbon Footprint, Infrastructure Development, Social Practice, Time Use