Climate crisis requires consumption changes

The climate crisis as well as other environmental problems require actions beyond current efforts. Western countries need to complement efficiency improvements in production, technological innovations, and the “greening” of consumption with more fundamental changes to consumption patterns, including reductions in consumption levels.

In her doctoral thesis, Maria Sandberg identifies consumption changes that will be necessary to combat the climate crisis, biodiversity loss, and other environmental problems.

“We need a multitude of different changes to consumption patterns. In addition to reducing consumption in absolute terms, we need to shift to less resource-intensive modes of consumption, extend the lifespan of products already in use, and share products among individuals,” Sandberg says.

Focus needs to be on the consumption changes with the highest impact. Housing, nutrition, and mobility have been shown to have the highest environmental impact and need the most attention. Different types of consumption changes may be the most impactful in different consumption categories.

“For example, for mobility, reducing private car use shows the most potential, either reducing travel in absolute terms or shifting to other forms of transport, such as public transport or bicycling. In contrast, for nutrition, shifts from meat and dairy consumption to plant-based diets is the consumption change with the most potential, along with reducing household food waste,” Sandberg explains.

You can read the doctoral thesis in full here. Opens in new window

Maria Sandberg will be defending her doctoral thesis “Sufficiency Transitions: Realizing Consumption Changes for Environmental Sustainability” at 12:00 am (EEST) on 25 January 2022. The doctoral defence will take place online. You can access the Teams virtual meeting by clicking on this link Opens in new window . The field of study is marketing.

Opponent: Professor Eva Heiskanen, University of Helsinki
Custos: Professor Maria Holmlund-Rytkönen, Hanken School of Economics