Publication type
Journal Article
Authors
Publication date
June 1, 2014
Summary:
Motorised transport infrastructure and increasingly specialised labour
markets have resulted in energy intensive commuter patterns in many
parts of the world. This is cause for concern due to the possibility of
oil price shocks and the need to restrict the combustion of fossil fuels
to minimise the chances of runaway climate change. The paper
investigates methods to identify the spatial distribution and
socio-demographic profiles of those who are vulnerable to high oil
prices. It does this by use of four metrics of oil vulnerability which
were developed using a spatial microsimulation model and applied to the
case study region of Yorkshire and the Humber, UK. The metrics capture
different aspects of vulnerability and highlight the importance of
translating conceptual definitions into practical metrics. The
geographically aggregated results coincide with the literature: rural
areas are associated with the highest levels of vulnerability. The
individual level results indicate that vulnerability can be prevalent
even in seemingly resilient areas. Ultimately, we conclude that the
social and spatial distribution of oil vulnerability depends on how an
energy-constrained future is envisioned. Creating localised metrics
about the future is a challenging task fraught with danger but could,
provided that these metrics are interpreted with sufficient humility,
aid the development of equitable policies to encourage resilience, as
part of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels.
Published in
Geoforum
Volume and page numbers
Volume: 51 , p.169 -182
DOI
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2013.11.005
ISSN
167185
Subjects
#523553