The S3 Group focuses on demand-side systems as entry points for sustainable transformations. The group analyses demand for energy and materials through the lens of service provision of mobility, shelter, and consumer goods, as well as how lifestyle changes can contribute to consumption reduction.

Economic Frontiers © Jon Anders Wiken | Dreamstime.com

The S3 Group have two overarching research objectives. First, to understand the evolution of behaviors and lifestyles around energy services and assess their environmental impacts; and second, to identify and understand policy interventions that can change behaviors and lifestyles to minimize environmental impacts. The group’s research binds together work on three domains that are critical for a transformation toward sustainable societies, namely buildings, mobility, and consumer goods, which are connected through changes in infrastructures and lifestyles. S3 aims to establish and lead a research community on demand-side transitions and to innovate conceptual frameworks for demand-side model comparisons.

Selected Publications

Kikstra, J. , Vinca, A. , Lovat, F. , Boza-Kiss, B. , van Ruijven, B. , Wilson, C. , Rogelj, J. , Zakeri, B. , Fricko, O. , & Riahi, K. (2021). Climate mitigation scenarios with persistent COVID-19-related energy demand changes. Nature Energy 6 1114-1123. 10.1038/s41560-021-00904-8.

Mastrucci, A. , van Ruijven, B. , Byers, E. , Poblete-Cazenave, M., & Pachauri, S. (2021). Global scenarios of residential heating and cooling energy demand and CO2 emissions. Climatic Change 168 (3-4) e14. 10.1007/s10584-021-03229-3.

Rao, N.D. & Wilson, C. (2021). Advancing energy and well-being research. Nature Sustainability 5 98-103. 10.1038/s41893-021-00775-7.

Poblete-Cazenave, M., Pachauri, S. , Byers, E. , Mastrucci, A. , & van Ruijven, B. (2021). Global scenarios of household access to modern energy services under climate mitigation policy. Nature Energy 6 824-833. 10.1038/s41560-021-00871-0.

Battiston, S., Monasterolo, I., Riahi, K. , & van Ruijven, B.J. (2021). Accounting for finance is key for climate mitigation pathways. Science eabf3877. 10.1126/science.abf3877.