Lovelace, R and Philips, I (2014) The oil vulnerability of commuter patterns: a case study from Yorkshire and the Humber, UK. Geoforum, 51. pp. 169-182. ISSN 0016-7185
Abstract
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 pro les 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 de nitions 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 su cient humility, aid the development of equitable policies to encourage resilience, as part of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2013, Elsevier. This is an author produced version of a paper accepted for publication in Geoforum. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Oil vulnerability; Commuting; Peak oil |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > Institute for Transport Studies (Leeds) > ITS: Sustainable Transport Policy (Leeds) The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Geography (Leeds) > Centre for Spatial Analysis & Policy (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 26 Nov 2013 12:17 |
Last Modified: | 10 Aug 2017 08:49 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2013.11.005 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.geoforum.2013.11.005 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:77115 |