Behavioral and intentional effects of providing personal emission information: An experimental approach

To achieve local and national climate goals, it is essential to explore new policy instruments. This article examines the effects of introducing a non-intrusive policy instrument aimed at reducing car use. Specifically, we investigate the short-term behavioral impact of providing personal emission information to employees. Through a field experiment among municipal employees in Sarpsborg (Norway), we assess whether receiving personal emissions information related to municipal climate goals increases the intention to reduce car use and whether there are any short-term reductions in emissions from commuting. Our findings indicate that providing personal emission information has a small yet non-negligible effect on the intention to reduce the use of fossil-fuel cars. Equally important, we find a modest treatment effect on individual transport emissions. This study contributes to the literature on policy instruments by examining the behavioral effects of a relatively unexplored and innovative approach.