As consumers, our lives are based on goods, services and activities that depend on the production of greenhouse gas emissions. Taking UK emissions alone, a conservative estimate is that 75% of emissions are influenced directly or indirectly by consumers. At the same time, much hope is being invested in international negotiations and big-ticket solutions – often led by individual countries – as a way of tackling climate change. But with emissions rising exponentially, we need solutions more quickly than governments can achieve on their own.

 

Consumption transcends national boundaries. Businesses serve consumers, operate globally and can work quickly. So the opportunity is there for consumers, helped by businesses, to lead a green revolution: this paper shows how it can be achieved.

 

It is neither desirable socially nor possible in reality to deny countries the opportunity to develop and raise living standards. The aim must therefore be to find routes to low-carbon improvements in living standards in both developed and developing countries. Action to tackle emissions in the supply chain is vital, but will not be enough on its own: consumers need to be empowered to choose the best products and use them effectively.

 

To maximise the power of consumers in tackling climate change, we need a three part revolution:

(A) Removing individual barriers

• Price 

• Information about the impact of consumer choices on climate change;

• Hopelessness

(B) Changing the social context

(C) Adapting the material context

 

Using all these strategies together will put consumers at the heart of the fight against climate change. The prize is a powerful and well-directed movement for change – a consumer-driven revolution in low-carbon consumption.