According to researchers from the UN climate panel, behavioral change can make a major contribution to combating climate change: about 40 to 70 percent less greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This is stated in the UN climate report published today. This concerns, for example, energy saving, the use of sustainable energy and sustainable transport and eating less meat and dairy.
It is the first climate report that examines in depth the possibilities for changing the behavior of consumers, businesses and governments. Forty to seventy percent less emissions, that’s a lot. Can that really be achieved? “In any case, the will is there,” says psychology professor Linda Steg of the University of Groningen and one of the authors of the third IPCC report. According to her, research shows that people care more about the climate than we sometimes think. If it is made possible for them, they are willing to change their behavior.
This willingness is often underestimated by politicians and the business community. “Companies think: I can produce something, but people don’t want to buy it anyway. Governments think: I can’t pursue a climate policy, because I don’t find support for that, then I won’t be re-elected. Consumers think: I want to, but the government and business do nothing.” According to Steg, this means that all parties are waiting for each other.
She does comment on the possible reduction of emissions by consumers: “Before such percentages are achieved, a lot of barriers still have to be removed”. According to Steg, the most important barriers that stand in the way of climate-friendly behavior are a lack of money, for example for making houses gas-free, a lack of knowledge and a lack of motivation.
What are sustainable choices and how difficult are they to make? We asked professor Linda Steg and a number of consumers:
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