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Découplage absolu ou relatif: read a French environmental claim

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Classify French environmental claims from output and resource-use figures, separating lower total impact from lower impact per unit in a fixed comparison scope.

In short

Compare the total and the intensity, using the same scope and dates. With output rising, absolute decoupling here requires total resource use or emissions to fall. Relative-only decoupling means use per output unit falls while the total rises more slowly than output. An intensity improvement alone does not establish a lower total.

Two water jugs stand beside block towers of different heights.
A larger output can coexist with a larger resource total; calculate use per unit separately. Illustration: Atelier

The figures below are teaching data. Each pair concerns one unchanged perimeter, one resource or emission measure, and two matching observation dates. Output rises in every item. This removes recession cases and changes of boundary from the exercise; those require additional interpretation in real reports.

Sort by the stated total-and-intensity rule

Tap a word, then the box it belongs in.

Intensity is a ratio, not the total

A worked relative-only example
MeasureBeforeAfter
Output100120
Total water use100110
Water per output unit1About 0.917

The ratio falls from 1 to about 0.917, while the total water use rises from 100 to 110. A sentence claiming une baisse de la consommation totale would contradict those figures. Une baisse de la consommation par unité produite fits them. The denominator is doing essential work.

La consommation par unité diminue, mais le volume total consommé augmente encore.

Consumption per unit decreases, but the total volume consumed still increases.

A measured perimeter limits the conclusion

A factory-level result does not automatically establish an economy-wide result, and one resource does not stand for every environmental pressure. Before extending a claim, check whether outsourced production, imports or another period change the perimeter. This page supplies none of those extra observations.

Question 1No account needed
Output rises and total emissions fall. Which bucket fits here?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Absolute.. Both required directions are present.

Question 2No account needed
In the worked example, which summary matches 100 → 120 output and 100 → 110 water use?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Intensity falls while total water use rises.. The ratio falls from 1 to about 0.917, while total water use rises by 10.

Question 3No account needed
What must a comparison preserve?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

A consistent measure, period and perimeter.. Otherwise changes can reflect incompatible quantities rather than the stated relation.

Authors sometimes use relative decoupling as a broad term that can include an absolute decline. Reports can also classify unchanged totals differently. This task uses rising or falling totals: relatif seulement excludes an absolute decline. Read a report’s definitions before importing its labels into your summary.

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