Carbon rationing, carbon allowances/entitlements or Domestic Tradeable Quotas, as the concept is variously called, would be a UK-wide allowance system covering the carbon emissions generated from the fossil fuel energy used by individuals within the home and for personal transport, including carbon equivalent emissions from air travel. It would account for around half of current UK carbon emissions from energy. The primary aim of the scheme would be to deliver guaranteed levels of carbon savings in successive years in an equitable way.

The main features of personal carbon rations are:

• An equal annual ration is allocated for each adult, with a smaller one for children
• Rations are tradable
• The ration covers the direct energy used in the household and for personal travel
• A phased year-on-year reducing ration is signalled well in advance
• The arrangement is mandatory, with Parliamentary approval.

The concept of carbon rationing has been most fully developed by Mayer Hillman and Tina Fawcett of the Policy Studies Institute. A book, outlining the concept in full has been published:

Hillman, M. & Fawcet t , T. 2004, How we can save the planet, Penguin Books, London.

A similar scheme across the whole economy has been proposed. For details see: Anderson, K. & Starkey, R. 2004, Domestic tradable quotas: A policy instrument for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, Norwich.