Reduced consumption-based climate emissions and equal living conditions (in Avesta)

In this study, implemented in collaboration between Avesta municipality and the research institutions SEI and RISE, the project team will work to increase understanding of the diverse abilities, potential and motivations that drive changes in consumption patterns among residents.

The climate impact of consumption can vary greatly between different households within the same municipality, ranging from around 3.5 metric tons of CO₂e per person per year in economically disadvantaged areas to nearly 18 metric tons of CO₂e per person per year in more affluent areas. Transitioning towards more sustainable consumption patterns will have varying effects on households. Currently, there is limited research on the equity dimension of consumption patterns, and with this project, we aspire to make a substantive contribution in this field.

The project will examine what challenges and advantages inherent in altering consumption practices for different household segments, including resource-poor groups with comparatively lower climate footprint, resource-rich segments with significantly higher climate footprint, and the rural population where access to basic services is not as available and the car accounts for a large proportion of the climate footprint.

Our objective is to discern how the municipality can facilitate a sustainable transformation among residents to reduce their consumption-related climate footprints while at the same time promoting more equal living conditions.

The project is funded by FORMAS, the Swedish Research Council for Sustainable Development.