Such effects could have important implications for economies at all spatial scales, and are of interest to local, regional and national governments. There are also potentially important impacts of DG policy on fuel poverty in particular and equity in general, as well as issues relating to the potential displacement of emissions across local areas, from centralised ‘out of town’ plants to urban locations. This highlights the complexity of, but also the need for, emissions attribution analyses that recognise geographic boundaries (and accommodate trade flows) appropriately. System-wide economic-energy-environment modelling can, we believe, enhance the evidence base for DG policy formation and implementation.