A home for all within planetary boundaries: Pathways for meeting England's housing needs…

The article titled "A home for all within planetary boundaries: Pathways for meeting England's housing needs without transgressing national climate and biodiversity goals" highlights the urgent need for sustainable housing solutions in England. Published in Ecological Economics, the paper is authored by a group of researchers including Sophus O.S.E. zu Ermgassen and Michal P. Drewniok, who explore the interplay between housing policy, environmental sustainability, and social welfare.

The primary government response to the housing affordability crisis in England is to construct 300,000 new homes annually. However, the authors estimate that this business-as-usual approach could consume England's entire cumulative carbon budget compatible with a 1.5°C warming by 2050. Specifically, about 12% of emissions arise from new constructions, while 92% are attributed to existing housing stock. The research indicates that simply increasing the housing supply may not adequately address the underlying social and economic issues, such as rising house prices and homelessness.

The article underscores that current housing policies could lead to significant conflicts with national biodiversity goals. For instance, the housing expansion is projected to contribute to biodiversity loss, threatening around 24% of species on the IUCN Red List due to infrastructure development. The authors advocate for strategies that decarbonize existing housing through rapid retrofitting and policies that discourage the overconsumption of living space.

The authors present alternative strategies for meeting housing needs without rapid expansion. These include improving affordability by reducing reliance on housing as a financial asset, expanding social housing, and enhancing the efficiency of land use. They also call for a shift towards policies that prioritize the existing housing stock and advocate for the development of a more equitable housing system, which could satisfy unmet housing needs while adhering to environmental targets.

To align housing strategies with sustainability goals, the authors recommend several policy innovations. These include implementing a land-value tax to capture the unearned increase in land value, enhancing the quality and efficiency of existing homes, and introducing robust standards for new builds to ensure they meet net-zero emissions criteria. They also emphasize the necessity of addressing the political economy surrounding housing, which often favors expansion over sustainability.

The research indicates that without significant changes to current housing policies, England risks compromising its climate and biodiversity objectives. Retrofitting existing homes and reducing the pace of new construction could lead to substantial emissions savings. The study aims to provide a pathway toward achieving both housing needs and national sustainability goals, ultimately contributing to a more resilient and equitable future for housing in England and potentially across Europe.