Analyzing the Influence of Environmental Impact Assessment Method on Transition Policies in the Lake Geneva Region

This study analyzes how the choice of environmental impact assessment method influences the identification of high-emission households and, consequently, the focus of public climate policies in the Lake Geneva region. Using detailed survey data from the Panel Lémanique, greenhouse gas emissions from household mobility were calculated via both direct emission factors and life-cycle assessment (LCA) factors. While LCA estimates consistently yield higher total emissions and slightly reduce inequality in emission distribution, both methods largely identify similar socio-economic profiles for high and low emitters. Income level emerges as a significant predictor of emissions, while location has limited influence. The findings suggest that for mobility-related emissions, direct methods may be sufficient for policy design, with LCA providing only minor refinements. The study underlines the robustness of current assessment approaches but highlights the potential for broader analyses including other consumption categories and additional environmental indicators.