Do you ever wonder what it would take for everyone to live in such a way that we could stop global warming?
The Paris Agreement (UNFCC 2018) set an aspirational climate stabilization goal at 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. A new report explores what this means for household consumption and related lifestyle impacts.
“Lifestyle Carbon Footprints: Exploration of Long-term Targets and Case Studies of Carbon Footprints from Household Consumption” suggests a target for individuals that reaches below 0.9 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per person per year by 2050. This is far below the annual emissions of an average Finnish (10.4 tCO2e) or Japanese (7.6 tCO2e) person.
Case studies in the report address household consumption and lifestyle impacts for average persons in: Finland, Japan, China, India and Brazil. In-depth analysis focusses on Finland and Japan. The report identifies various actions necessary for households, businesses and governments to achieve climate stabilization goals at the 2 degree and 1.5 degree levels. This aligns with what scientists believe are the thresholds for climate stabilization. If global average temperatures reach above 2 degrees Celsius we cross a tipping point that triggers “grave damage to ecosystems” (IPCC 2004), risking transformation to an uninhabitable world.
Unfortunately, it appears that tipping point has been crossed. Scientists anticipate that methane release from melting permafrost in the arctic will set us on an unavoidable 3 degrees Celsius rise. This means that simultaneous with reducing emissions from fossil fuel consumption, investments in regenerating ecosystems and adaptation to a far less hospital world are also required. Unfortunately, the imbalance of carbon in our atmosphere is an entirely self-inflicted situation, stemming in large part from a mal-adapted understanding of how the world works and a global economic system predicated on growth and inadequate pricing of nature’s services. This means that climate adaptation requires a rethink of our global economy as well as changes in how and where we live.
The International Ecocity Standards for “Clean Air” and “Earth’s Carrying Capacity” connect with standards for “Responsible Materials,” “Clean and Renewable Energy,” “Access to Nutritious Food,” “Healthy Culture,” “Community Capacity/Governance,” and “Healthy and Equitable Economy” provide insights for adapting in ways that align with how the world works: www.ecocitystandards.org.
We will explore the topic of “sustainable lifestyles and behaviours” at the upcoming Ecocity World Summit 2019 in relation to the conference theme and sub-themes addressing “Socially Just and Ecologically Sustainable Cities,” “Climate Action,” “Circular Economy,” and “Informal Solutions for Sustainable Development.” To learn more visit: www.ecocity2019.
Please join us in the transition to socially just and ecologically sustainable cities and lifestyles.
References:
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC). 2018. The Paris Agreement. Online resource: https://unfccc.int/process/the-paris-agreement/what-is-the-paris-agreement (Accessed September 28, 2018).
International Panel on Climate Change. 2007. Fourth Assessment Report: Climate Change 2007: Working Group III: Mitigation of Climate Change. Online resource: https://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg3/en/ch1s1-2-2.html (Accessed September 28, 2018).