- Fighting climate change means making changes in lifestyles, particularly for the wealthy, to complement efficiency and decarbonization strategies.
- Sticking to the status quo in terms of consumption growth puts any supply-side decarbonization achievements at risk (e.g. solar deployment).
- For changes in individual behaviour to make a difference, they must be combined with mutually reinforcing changes by the public and business sectors.
- Lifestyles compatible with the 1.5°C goal can result in a “good life” for all (i.e., “1.5°C lifestyles”).
- “Consumption corridors”, which set the upper and lower consumption levels of acceptable individual carbon emissions, should serve as a guide.
- Fighting climate change means making changes in lifestyles, particularly for the wealthy, to complement efficiency and decarbonization strategies.
- Sticking to the status quo in terms of consumption growth puts any supply-side decarbonization achievements at risk (e.g. solar deployment).
- For changes in individual behaviour to make a difference, they must be combined with mutually reinforcing changes by the public and business sectors.
- Lifestyles compatible with the 1.5°C goal can result in a “good life” for all (i.e., “1.5°C lifestyles”).
- “Consumption corridors”, which set the upper and lower consumption levels of acceptable individual carbon emissions, should serve as a guide.
Households have both a direct and indirect influence on a large share of global CO2 emissions through their consumption patterns. Targeting these demand-side sources has been overlooked in present climate change strategies, which should better balance supply- and demand-side interventions. In order to stay within the 1.5°C target it is necessary to at least halve mean global household CO2 emissions by 2030, with very steep reductions required for wealthy households (e.g. the wealthiest 10% in the EU will have to cut their footprint by almost 90%). Given the noticeable difference in carbon emissions between households in less developed countries and more developed countries as well as within countries, response measures will have to be targeted, guided by climate justice and equity ideals (see Insight 5 for more). Beyond equity justifications, these high-consuming households also offer the greatest behaviour change levers for demand-side mitigation.
Stimulating new value systems and behaviour change at the household level has the potential to create system-wide effects. The emission-intensive consumption areas of food, housing and mobility need specific attention. To make the changes necessary for 1.5°C lifestyles, households will need support from the public and business sectors. Evidence suggests that this process could drive a virtuous cycle of accelerating progress towards decarbonized societies. System-wide changes, such as shifts to low-carbon energy and transport, can make it possible to provide a good quality of life while staying within the stringent individual carbon budgets of a 1.5°C lifestyle.
A concept that is helpful in defining a 1.5°C lifestyle is “consumption corridors”. This is the space where the lower limit of emissions per individual is determined by the absolute prerequisites for a decent standard of living, and the upper limit is set by global emissions targets to achieve set climate goals. Moving the entire global population into this space would greatly improve life for billions while requiring significant changes to wealthy, high-consuming elites.
The COVID-19 pandemic instigated rapid and large changes in household behaviour (if not without contentious debate). This points to the possibility of achieving 1.5°C lifestyles via demand-side interventions, given a global crisis that was recognized by the public as requiring behavioural change. Importantly though, supply-side interventions must utilize democratic processes to assure that the burdens for change are equitably
Households have both a direct and indirect influence on a large share of global CO2 emissions through their consumption patterns. Targeting these demand-side sources has been overlooked in present climate change strategies, which should better balance supply- and demand-side interventions. In order to stay within the 1.5°C target it is necessary to at least halve mean global household CO2 emissions by 2030, with very steep reductions required for wealthy households (e.g. the wealthiest 10% in the EU will have to cut their footprint by almost 90%). Given the noticeable difference in carbon emissions between households in less developed countries and more developed countries as well as within countries, response measures will have to be targeted, guided by climate justice and equity ideals (see Insight 5 for more). Beyond equity justifications, these high-consuming households also offer the greatest behaviour change levers for demand-side mitigation.
Stimulating new value systems and behaviour change at the household level has the potential to create system-wide effects. The emission-intensive consumption areas of food, housing and mobility need specific attention. To make the changes necessary for 1.5°C lifestyles, households will need support from the public and business sectors. Evidence suggests that this process could drive a virtuous cycle of accelerating progress towards decarbonized societies. System-wide changes, such as shifts to low-carbon energy and transport, can make it possible to provide a good quality of life while staying within the stringent individual carbon budgets of a 1.5°C lifestyle.
A concept that is helpful in defining a 1.5°C lifestyle is “consumption corridors”. This is the space where the lower limit of emissions per individual is determined by the absolute prerequisites for a decent standard of living, and the upper limit is set by global emissions targets to achieve set climate goals. Moving the entire global population into this space would greatly improve life for billions while requiring significant changes to wealthy, high-consuming elites.
The COVID-19 pandemic instigated rapid and large changes in household behaviour (if not without contentious debate). This points to the possibility of achieving 1.5°C lifestyles via demand-side interventions, given a global crisis that was recognized by the public as requiring behavioural change. Importantly though, supply-side interventions must utilize democratic processes to assure that the burdens for change are equitably
At a global level, decision makers need to:
- define equitable “consumption corridors” through democratic processes and place the burden of demand-side changes on high-emitting consumer elites.
At regional and national levels, governments are urged to:
- translate national policies to achieve the 1.5oC target into concrete measures, including creating the infrastructure needed for 1.5°C-compatible lifestyles;
- pay particular attention to solutions in areas of food, transport and housing that are of crucial relevance;
- support changes to household consumption patterns via policy and infrastructure that spur mutually reinforcing transitions.
At a global level, decision makers need to:
- define equitable “consumption corridors” through democratic processes and place the burden of demand-side changes on high-emitting consumer elites.
At regional and national levels, governments are urged to:
- translate national policies to achieve the 1.5oC target into concrete measures, including creating the infrastructure needed for 1.5°C-compatible lifestyles;
- pay particular attention to solutions in areas of food, transport and housing that are of crucial relevance;
- support changes to household consumption patterns via policy and infrastructure that spur mutually reinforcing transitions.
[+]
| ↑1, ↑2, ↑3, ↑4 | Akenji, L., Bengtsson, M., Toivio, V., Lettenmeier, M., Fawcett, T., Parag, Y., Saheb, Y., Coote, A., Spangenberg, J. H., Capstick, S., Gore, T., Coscieme, L., Wackernagel, M., and Kenner, D. (2021): Towards A Fair Consumption Space for All. Hot or Cool Institute, Berlin. Available online at https://hotorcool.org/1-5-degree-lifestyles-report/, checked on 12/7/2021. |
|---|
[+]
| ↑1, ↑2, ↑3, ↑4 | Akenji, L., Bengtsson, M., Toivio, V., Lettenmeier, M., Fawcett, T., Parag, Y., Saheb, Y., Coote, A., Spangenberg, J. H., Capstick, S., Gore, T., Coscieme, L., Wackernagel, M., and Kenner, D. (2021): Towards A Fair Consumption Space for All. Hot or Cool Institute, Berlin. Available online at https://hotorcool.org/1-5-degree-lifestyles-report/, checked on 12/7/2021. |
|---|
5
Global climate action must be just
1
Stabilizing at 1.5°C warming is still possible, but immediate and drastic global action is required
2
Rapid growth in methane and nitrous oxide emissions put us on track for 2.7°C warming
3
Megafires—climate change forces fire extremes to reach new dimensions with extreme impacts
4
Be aware of high-impact risks from climate tipping elements
5
Global climate action must be just
7
Political challenges impede effectiveness of carbon pricing
Nature-based Solutions are critical for the pathway to Paris – but look at the fine print
8
9
Building resilience of marine ecosystems is achievable by climate-adapted conservation and management, and global stewardship
Costs of climate change mitigation can be justified by the multiple immediate benefits to the health of humans and nature
10
1
Stabilizing at 1.5°C warming is still possible, but immediate and drastic global action is required
Rapid growth in methane and nitrous oxide emissions put us on track for 2.7°C warming
2
3
Megafires — Climate change forces fire extremes to reach new dimensions with extreme impacts
Climate tipping elements incur high-impact risks
4
10 New Insights in Climate Science
A year of climate-related science in review
Each year we consult researchers and carry out a horizon scan in fields related to climate change on what the latest findings and most important new emerging fields are. We summarize this in 10 important scientific insights, and the result has always been a rich and valuable scientific synthesis for policy and society at large, a testament to the ever-expanding and improving knowledge of our planetary climate systems and the interactions with the human world.Extras
Acknowledgements
The full authoring team and other contributors are listed here. The making of this report has been led by Future Earth, The Earth League and the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP). We also gratefully acknowledge support from Arizona State University (ASU), GERICS Climate Service Center Germany (an institution of Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon),
We acknowledge the work of the following individuals in their respective capacities:
Produced by: Future Earth, The Earth League, Azote, and the World Climate Research Programme
Website, graphics and publication design: Cultivate Communications, Azote
10 New Insights in Climate Science
A year of climate-related science in review
Each year we consult researchers and carry out a horizon scan in fields related to climate change on what the latest findings and most important new emerging fields are. We summarize this in 10 important scientific insights, and the result has always been a rich and valuable scientific synthesis for policy and society at large, a testament to the ever-expanding and improving knowledge of our planetary climate systems and the interactions with the human world.Extras
Acknowledgements
The full authoring team and other contributors are listed here. The making of this report has been led by Future Earth, The Earth League and the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP). We also gratefully acknowledge support from Arizona State University (ASU), GERICS Climate Service Center Germany (an institution of Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon),
We acknowledge the work of the following individuals in their respective capacities:
Produced by: Future Earth, The Earth League, Azote, and the World Climate Research Programme
Website, graphics and publication design: Cultivate Communications, Azote