The role of low-carbon livelihoods in protecting the rural environment The case study : bagheran rural district , Birjand county

The rural environment as a ground of agricultural activities has an impact on low-carbon livelihoods because the livelihoods of rural settlements are nature-based and are organized in accordance with the principles of environmental protection. Nowadays, unreleased energy use is one of the most important sources of carbon dioxide emissions that are led to climate change and environmental damages. Therefore, in order to achieve sustainable environmental goals and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it is necessary to tend to low carbon livelihood. For this purpose, the present research was conducted with the aim of studying the rural life status and role of low-carbon livelihoods in protecting the rural environment among 290 households living in rural areas of Bagheran district of Birjand. The analysis of the relationships between variables is done based on the PLS correlation model and path analysis in structural model shows that social low-carbon, the physical low carbon and the economic low-carbon environment have an effective and comprehensive role in environmental conservation. In this regard, in the social aspect, saving attitude with factor load of 263.967 ,in the economic environment, agent of green jobs (13.06), and in the physical environment, the widespread use of public transportation (25.459) have contributed in protecting the rural environment.Concerning the use of low-carbon energy in rural areas, the findings revealed that energy consumption is generally low in this rural region, but the expansion of low-carbon fields such as solar and natural fuels like biogas can expand the fields of low-carbon energy.Accordingly, in order to sustain the social dimension of low carbon consumption and to strengthen the economic and physical dimensions, some suggestions are represented such as includes the development of low carbon science, workshops and training classes for familiarizing low carbon consumption methods, adoption of the low carbon livelihood principles in terms of conducting rural projec.