Shifting spending on food, holidays and furniture could cut greenhouse gas emissions by almost 40%!

First published: July 19, 2021 https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.13176

Commentary

The study was investigating how consumption-based greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced in private households.

The purpose of the study was to quantify mitigation opportunities by shifting spending on food, holidays and equipment to less carbon-intensive products and services that are available on the market but not yet mainstream.

Using an analysis of 217 carbon dioxide emissions/SEK from commercial products and services, we estimated consumption-based carbon dioxide emissions from the average person, the average single man, and the average single woman.

As a hypothesis, we assumed consumption-based greenhouse gas emissions for these households to be 6.9, 10, and 8.5 tons per person per year.

Food, holidays, and furnishings account for 56-59% of this, and mainstream food, holidays, and furnishings include plant-based alternatives to meat and dairy products, locally produced vegetables, used or repaired furniture, international travel by train, and "staycations.

The results show that shifting spending on these products and services to less carbon-intensive alternatives, without changing total spending, can reduce total greenhouse gas emissions by 36-38%. Since the percentage of total emissions derived from food, holidays, and supplies decreases to 30-35% after the change, the findings are discussed in light of the goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, additional sustainability aspects, limitations of the study, and the need for further research.