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A low-carbon future based on renewable energy systems is required to limit global warming to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels by the end of this century. However, economy-wide decarbonisation is projected to be highly material and energy intensive. Understanding the material-energy nexus through existing research would offer valuable insights for comprehensive resource management to achieve sustainable climate mitigation. This study provides the first systematic review of material-energy nexus literature published between 2002 and 2022, emphasising the interconnections and feedback loops between material and energy systems. The global knowledge-stock is comprehensively assessed regarding research focus, sustainability challenges, and corresponding circular economy strategies. Additionally, significant gaps in the research agenda and key policy implications for both material consuming-developed countries and producing-developing countries are proposed. Findings of this study underscore the vital role of international cooperation in managing primary and secondary material supply chains, grounded in the "common but differentiated responsibilities" principle under the Paris Agreement. Consuming-developed countries should support producing-developing countries in building renewable energy capacity, optimising energy saving technologies and measures, and adhering to high environmental standards for resources extraction and production. Meanwhile, both consuming-developed countries and producing-developing countries should take domestic mitigation measures. The former should focus on changing consumption behaviour, and the latter on increasing resource efficiency. [Display omitted] • M -E Nexus material focus moving from bulk materials to minor metals. • Demand-side energy efficiency equally important to renewable supply. • Metals co-production induce oversupply and undersupply of associated metals. • Reuse, repair, refurbish, remanufacture and repurpose are underrepresented. • Circular economy requires behavioural transition and economic incentives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Promoting the adoption and maintenance of low-carbon consumption behaviors (LCBs) is a global climate action. Most prior studies have considered only the adoption of LCBs and not explored how behavioral characteristics and emotions influence individual behaviors. To address these limitations, this study builds a dual-level integrated model to detect the maintenance rate of various LCBs and identify what factors affect behavioral maintenance. Using data collected from 2052 residents in China, generalized linear mixed models are employed to examine the effects of behavioral and individual-level factors and of social interaction on the maintenance of LCBs. Robustness is checked using the instrumental variable method, least-squares dummy variable method, and Probit approach. The estimated maintenance rate for different LCBs ranges between 29.02 % and 83.49 %, while the estimated cessation rate ranges between 2.31 % and 6.58 %. Maintenance of LCBs is positively affected by context stability but negatively influenced by effort expectancy. Anticipated guilt is identified as the strongest driver (positive) of maintenance of LCBs for all tested variables, followed by symbol expectancy. However, neither behavior routinization nor anticipated pride is found to be significantly associated with behavioral maintenance. The effects of anticipated guilt, effort expectancy, and symbol expectancy on behavioral maintenance are moderated by social interaction. Regarding demographics, family size is positively associated with behavioral maintenance, while females are more likely than males to maintain LCBs. These findings address the under-studied effects of behavioral characteristics and emotions on behavioral maintenance, and provide new insights for redefining target interventions to engage the public in maintaining LCBs. [Display omitted] • Maintenance of low-carbon consumption behaviors (LCBs) is studied. • A dual-level integrated model incorporating social interaction is built. • Maintenance rate of LCBs is estimated between 29.02 % and 83.49 %. • Anticipated guilt is the strongest driver (positive) of maintenance of LCBs. • Symbol expectancy and context stability contribute to maintaining of LCBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The residential sector has been targeted as the one with a huge potential for reducing carbon emissions. In order to determine the present carbon footprint and the potential for achieving carbon neutrality, the study examines electricity consumption in average households, whose electricity is supplied by their national power grids. 31 European countries (27 EU and 4 non-EU countries) were included in this analysis. Our results indicate that the annual carbon emissions of these average households range from 0.09 to 6.44 tCO 2 e (1.36 tCO 2 e on average), depending on a country. In addition, the calculated electricity costs per tCO 2 e emission for an average household vary significantly (from 94 to 10,135 EUR/tCO 2 e).Carbon offsetting is a mechanism which enables households to achieve carbon neutrality, i.e. households can compensate for the emissions caused by their electricity consumption by purchasing voluntary carbon offsets. This study also analyses the financial implications of purchasing voluntary carbon offsets. The results indicate that voluntary carbon offsets do not burden household budgets significantly because their share in total electricity costs is small. European households, particularly those in countries where electricity is more expensive, can comfortably achieve carbon neutrality with voluntary carbon offsets. In this way, they can contribute to global sustainable development. [Display omitted] • Average carbon footprint of grid-connected household in Europe is less than 2 tCO2e. • The cost of electricity per CO2 emissions varies from 94 to 10,135 EUR/tCO2. • Voluntary carbon offset costs in electricity costs vary widely across Europe. • Carbon offsetting is a practical solution for achieving a carbon-neutral household. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]