The UK government needs to go beyond offering subsidies for low-carbon technologies (LCTs) like electric cars and solar panels for energy and heating, if it is to meet its net-zero targets by 2050, a new report from the University of Sheffield suggests.
英国谢菲尔德大学的一份新报告指出，若要在2050年前实现净零排放目标，英国政府仅靠为电动汽车、太阳能板等低碳技术提供补贴远远不够，还需在能源和供暖领域采取更多措施。

The report, published with partners from the universities of Nottingham and Macedonia, found that although gains are being made in encouraging people to adopt low-carbon technologies, not enough is being done to continue to reduce the inequalities in uptake amongst some socioeconomic groups.
该报告由诺丁汉大学和马其顿大学的合作伙伴共同发布，研究发现尽管在鼓励人们采用低碳技术方面取得进展，但持续减少某些社会经济群体间采用率不平等的努力仍显不足。

In recent years households using solar panels for electricity generation has increased from 3 to 6.5 per cent, the adoption of solar panels being used for heating increased from 1.4 to 2.1 per cent and households using an electric or hybrid-electric vehicle increased from less than 1 per cent to 2.8 per cent, reflecting the growing adoption of LCTs nationally.
近年来，使用太阳能板发电的家庭从3%增至6.5%，采用太阳能板供暖的家庭从1.4%增至2.1%，使用电动或混合动力汽车的家庭从不足1%增至2.8%，反映出全国范围内LCTs的日益普及。

However, the study found that although socioeconomic inequalities in LCTs adoption have decreased over the past decade, they still persist. Factors such as age, education, occupation, ethnicity and gender all contribute directly and indirectly to people's ability to invest in LCTs.
然而，研究发现，尽管过去十年间LCTs采用方面的社会经济不平等有所减少，但这些问题依然存在。年龄、教育、职业、种族和Gen等因素都直接或间接地影响着人们投资LCTs的Ability。

The report authors say more needs to be done to level the playing field, and help those from more disadvantaged backgrounds adopt technologies that could lower their household bills, and contribute to the UK's decarbonisation in the housing and automotive sectors.
报告作者表示，需要采取更多措施来创造公平竞争环境，帮助那些处于更不利背景的人群采用可降低家庭开支的技术，并为英国住房和汽车领域的脱碳做出贡献。

Dr Andrew Burlinson, from the University of Sheffield's School of Economics, said: "Our research suggests that some socioeconomic groups have not been adequately supported to adopt LCTs. So it is important to emphasise that by limiting the ability of the most disadvantaged groups to invest in technology that can lower their bills and increase resilience to fluctuating living costs -- such as current high energy prices -- may further exacerbate broader inequalities in our society.
谢菲尔德大学经济学院的安德鲁·伯林森博士表示："我们的研究表明，某些社会经济群体在采用低碳技术时未获得充分支持。因此必须强调，若限制最弱势群体投资能降低账单、增强应对生活成本波动（如当前高企的能源价格）韧性的技术之能力，可能会进一步加剧社会中的广泛不平等。"

"Our analysis reveals that educated and affluent households are more likely to have been able to adopt low-carbon technologies early, such as solar energy, solar heating and electric or hybrid transport.
我们的分析显示，受教育程度高且富裕的家庭更有可能尽早采用低碳技术，如太阳能、太阳能供热和电动或混合动力交通工具。

"Yet some existing financial subsidies to help people transition to LCTs have now ended, so those members of society who were unable to become early-adopters are now being left behind in the transition to net-zero."
然而，一些现有的用于帮助人们向低碳技术过渡的财政补贴现已结束，因此那些未能成为早期采用者的社会成员在向净零排放过渡的过程中正被抛在后面。

The UK government currently subsidises the purchase of some types of electric vehicles at the point of sale, but these subsidies are largely independent of the socioeconomic status of the consumer. Alongside this, subsidies to install domestic solar panels ended in 2019, which means that incentives to help people adopt LCTs are now limited, and may be working less well for those members of society with a lower socioeconomic status.
英国政府目前会在销售环节为部分类型的电动汽车提供购车补贴，但这些补贴基本与消费者的社会经济地位无关。与此同时，家用太阳能电池板的安装补贴已于2019年终止，这意味着当前鼓励民众采用低碳技术（LCTs）的激励措施十分有限，对社会经济地位较低的群体可能收效更微。

The authors say exploring the presence of socioeconomic inequalities in LCTs in the UK has important policy implications for the low-carbon transition, and the achievements of the UK government's ambitious and legally binding environmental targets.
作者们表示，探索英国低碳技术（LCTs）中存在的社会经济不平等现象，对低碳转型具有重要的政策意义，并关系到英国政府雄心勃勃且具有法律约束力的环境目标的Achievement。

There are positive signs that some consumers are increasingly adopting more sustainable ways to live and travel. But the Climate Change Committee reports that for the UK to make significant gains in reaching its net-zero targets, the market share for new electric vehicles needs to be at 100 per cent, from only 16.5 per cent today, and that solar panel installation rates need to increase by five times that of current levels.
有积极迹象表明，部分消费者正逐渐采用更可持续的生活和出行方式。但气候变化委员会报告指出，英国要在实现净零排放目标上取得重大进展，新电动汽车市场份额需从目前的16.5%提升至100%，太阳能电池板安装率需达到当前水平的五倍。

Professor Monica Giulietti, from the University of Nottingham, said: "In our report and new policy brief, we suggest it is vital that new interventions should be targeted towards those groups that could potentially benefit the most from cost-reducing technologies, not just at individual level but at a community level as well. This action will rely on addressing policy gaps in the private, rented and social housing sectors."
诺丁汉大学的莫妮卡·朱列蒂教授表示："在我们的报告和新政策简报中，我们提出关键建议——新干预措施应针对那些可能从降本技术中获益最多的群体，不仅要在个人层面，还要在社区层面。这一动作将依赖于解决私人、租赁和社会住房领域的政策缺口。"

As well as more targeted financial incentives for those of a lower socioeconomic position, the report calls for information incentives provided by trusted organisations to establish educational guidance and increase awareness of LCTs; to help those most in need navigate decision making about adoption.
除了为社会经济地位较低的人群提供更有针对性的经济激励措施外，报告还呼吁由可信组织提供信息激励措施，以建立教育指导并提高对LCTs的认识，帮助最需要的人群做出关于采用的决策。

The report also argues that new interventions need to be made at community level. Rather than advocating for solar technology just for individual households, a shift towards community installations is suggested to help alleviate the cost burden of adoption, and help level the playing field for those who do not have individual control over their property or transport.
报告还指出，需要在社区层面采取新的干预措施。与其仅仅为单个家庭推广太阳能技术，不如转向社区集体安装，这有助于减轻采用成本负担，并为那些无法自主管理房产或交通工具的人群创造更公平的条件。

Commenting on the research, Dr Jayne Carrick, from the South Yorkshire Sustainability Centre, said: "A recent survey conducted by the South Yorkshire Sustainability Centre into the region's energy consumption habits revealed a significant hurdle to low-carbon technologies: 46 per cent of residents are reluctant to adopt solar panels, and 57 per cent are hesitant about heat pumps.
南约克郡可持续发展中心的杰恩·卡里克博士在评论这项研究时表示："南约克郡可持续发展中心最近对该地区能源消费习惯进行的一项调查揭示了低碳技术面临的一个重大障碍：46%的居民不愿采用太阳能电池板，57%的居民对热泵犹豫不决。

"Much more needs to be done in UK policy to address the inequality in uptake and beyond. For example, the opportunity to unlock the power of community energy initiatives is a crucial area, streamlining processes and fostering collective investment to make LCTs accessible for all."
英国政策还需采取更多措施来解决普及率不均及其他问题。例如，释放社区能源计划潜力是一个关键领域，需简化流程并促进集体投资，让所有人都能使用LCTs。

Dr Andrew Burlinson added: "The findings of the new report add to the growing debate on the low individual uptake of LCTs, and the problems created for consumers from more disadvantaged backgrounds when access to the benefits of low-carbon technologies is unequally distributed.
安德鲁·伯林森博士补充道："新报告的发现进一步引发了关于个人对LCTs（低碳技术）接受度低的持续讨论，以及当低碳技术的好处分配不均时，给处于更弱势背景的消费者带来的问题。"

"Our results lead us to support policies targeting specific socioeconomic groups at individual and community level, which is not only crucial to mitigate the observed inequalities in LCT adoption, but also relevant in promoting energy efficiency and resilience to high energy prices as we transition towards a low-carbon future."
我们的研究结果支持针对特定社会经济群体在个人和社区层面实施的政策，这不仅对缓解所观察到的LCT采用不平等现象至关重要，而且在推动能源效率及增强对高能源价格的抵御能力方面也具有重要意义，因为我们正在向低碳未来过渡。