Sustainable Consumption Articles
These publications reflect the development of our field since SCORAI was founded in 2008
Recently, we asked the subscribers to the SCORAI listserv to suggest publications from the past decade or so which reflect major developments of the field of Sustainable Consumption. The responses we received were in the form of individual papers, reports and bibliographic lists. The list below is a pared down version of these submissions. Since sustainable consumption is a multidisciplinary field of scholarship and practice, we did not try to group them by topic; and since arranging them alphabetically did not make sense either, we settled on chronology as the organizing principle, choosing 2008 as a start: the year of founding of SCORAI.
There was no set of criteria for selection, no advisory committee, no decision tree. There was only one guiding principle: to capture the richness of the multiple perspectives which comprise the body of knowledge about the structure and functioning of consumer society, the forces that allow it to maintain and reproduce itself, and promising pathways for transitioning beyond it. The list is but an echo of how the field developed. Some of you will be unhappy with what is in it, and what is not. This is however a living list: please keep sending us more suggestions on what should be added to it.
The chronological arrangement of the bibliography also highlights the temporal evolution of the field: from the early emphasis on individual consumer behaviors, consumer culture, marketing and behavioral change; to a more systemic thinking about drivers of consumption, including institutions, social practices and technological change; to examining consumption from the angle of human well-being; to quantifying the link between consumption and greenhouse gas emissions; to recognizing the role of economic growth, political power and the financialization of the economy; to acknowledging the issues of equity and social justice in a transition to more sustainable consumption.
2023
THE HUMAN ECO-PREDICAMENT: OVERSHOOT AND THE POPULATION CONUNDRUM
by Wiliam Rees
Vienna Yearbook of Population Research 2023 Vol. 21: 1–19
2022
DECOUPLING DEBUNKED. EVIDENCE AND ARGUMENTS AGAINST GREEN GROWTH AS A SOLE STRATEGY FOR SUSTENABILITY. A STUDY EDITED BY THE EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENT BUREAU EEB
by Parrique,T., Barth, J., Briens, F., C. Kerschnre, KRAUS-Polk, A., Kuokkanen, A., Spangenberg, J.H.
EEB, European Environmental Bureau (2019)
WHAT SOCIAL CONTRACT FOR A FINITE WORLD?
by Mathieu Saujot
IDDRI Sustainable Development and International Relations,
Brief N° 3 OCTOBER 2022
Global Multi-Regional Input-Output methodology reveals lower energy footprint in an alternative community project
by Estitxu Villamore, Ortzi Akizu-Gardoki, Jukka Heinonen and Gorka Bueno
Sustainable Production and Consumption 34: 65-77 (2022)
Toward Sustainable Wellbeing: Advances in Contemporary Concepts
by Taghg O’Mahony
Frontiers of Sustainability 3:807984 (2022)
HOW DOES AFFLUENT CONSUMPTION COME TO CONSUMERS? A RESEARCH AGENDA FRO EXPLORNG FOUNDATIONS AND LOCK-INS OF AFFLUENT CONSUMPTION
by Sophie Dubuisson-Quellier
Consumption and Society 1: 31–50 (2022)
Comprehensive Evidence Implies a Higher Social Cost of CO2
by Rennert, K., Errickson, F., Prest, B.C. et al.
Nature 610, 687–692 (2022)
National Responsibility for Ecological Breakdown: A Fair-Shares Assessment of Resource Use, 1970–2017
by Jason Hickel, Daniel W. O’Neill, Andrew L. Fanning, and Huzaifa Zoomkawala
The Lancet Planetary Health 6 (4): e342–49 (2022).
Impacts of meeting minimum access on critical earth systems amidst the Great Inequality
by Crelis F. Rammelt, Joyeeta Gupta, Diana Liverman, Joeri Scholtens, Daniel Ciobanu, Jesse F. Abrams, Xuemei Bai,Lauren Gifford, Christopher Gordon, Margot Hurlbert, Cristina Y.A. Inoue, Lisa Jacobson, Steven J. Lade, Timothy M. Lenton, David I. Amstrong McKay, Nebojsa Nakicenovic, Chukwumerije Okereke, Ilona M.Otto, Laura M. Pereira, Klauia Prodani, Johan Rockstrom, Ben Stewart-Koster, Peter H. Verburg&Caroline Zimm
Nature Sustainability (2022)
Public acceptance of post-growth: Factors and implications for post-growth strategy
by Lily Paulson and Milena Buchs
Futures 143:103020
From an Ethic of Sufficiency to its Policy and Practice in Late Capitalism
by Anders Hayden, Thomas Princen, Marlyne Sahakian, Clémentine Rossier, Jonas Lage, Hannah Klinkenborg, Anica Rossmoeller, Laura Beyeler, David Barkin, Clay Dasilva, Melanie Jaeger-Erben
Frontiers in Sustainability
2021
The Outsized Carbon Footprints of the Super-Rich
by Beatriz Barros and Richard Wilk
Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy 17 (1): 316 (2021).
Social Policy Without Growth: Moving Towards Sustainable Welfare States
by Max Koch
Social Policy & Society 21:3, 447–459. doi:10.1017/S1474746421000361.
Through the Eye of a Needle: An Eco-Heterodox Perspective on the Renewable Energy Transition,
by Megan Seibert and William Rees
Energies, 14(15): 4508 (2021)
Building the bridge between Protected Needs and consumption corridors
by Antonietta Di Giulio & Rico Defila
(2021). Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy, 17:1, 117-134, DOI
Hamburg Climate Futures Outlook 2021
Assessing the plausibility of deep decarbonization by 2050
by Detlef Stammer; Anita Engels; Jochem Marotzke; Eduardo Gresse; Christopher Hedemann; Jan Petzold
(eds.); 2021. Cluster of Excellence Climate, Climatic Change, and Society (CLICCS). Hamburg, Germany
The Political Economy of (Un)Sustainable Production and Consumption
A Multidisciplinary Synthesis for Research and Action
by Manu Mathai
Resources, Conservation and Recycling 2021 ,Vol 167 (2021)
The Political Economy of car dependence: A systems of provision approach
by Giulio Mattiolia, Carmeron Roberts, Julia K. Steinberger, Andrew Brown
Energy Research & Social Science 66101486 (2020)
Sufficiency Transitions: A Review of Consumption Changes for Environmental Sustainability
Wellbeing Matters: Tackling growth dependency
by Tim Jackson
Sustainable Human Development: Essays on True Democracy and Capitalism, January 2021
Urgent need for post-growth climate mitigation scenarios
by Jason Hickel, Paul Brockway, Giorgos Kallis, Lorenz Keyßer, Manfred Lenzen, Aljoša Slameršak, Julia Steinberger & Diana Ürge-Vorsatz
Environmental Research Letters, 15(9), 093001 (2021).
1.5-Degree Lifestyles
Towards A Fair Consumption Space for All
by Lewis Akenji, Magnus Bengtsson, Viivi Toivio, Michael Lettenmeier, Tina Fawcett, Yael Parag, Yamina Saheb, Anna Coote, Joachim H. Spangenberg, Stuart Capstick, Tim Gore, Luca Coscieme, Mathis Wackernagel, Dario Kenner .
Hot or Cool Institute, Berlin(2021).
1.5-Degree Lifestyles scenarios
suggest the need for new mitigation pathways
Sustainable Lifestyles after Covid-19
by Fabián Echegaray, Valerie Brachya, Philip J. Vergragt, Lei Zhang,.
Routledge (2021).
Sustainable Consumption Communication
A Review of an Emerging Field of Research
Cleaner Production 300: 126880 (2021).
Changing our ways? Behaviour change and the climate crisis The report of the Cambridge Sustainability Commission
Global Carbon Inequality, 1990-2019
Global redistribution of income and household energy footprints: a computational thought experiment
by Oswald Y, Steinberger JK, Ivanova D, Millward-Hopkins J
(2021). Global Sustainability 4, e4, 1–13
1.5 °C degrowth scenarios suggest the need for new mitigation pathways
by Keyßer, L.T., Lenzen, M
Nat Commun 12, 2676 (2021).
Challenging social norms to recraft practices: A Living Lab approach to reducing household energy use in eight European countries
by Sahakian M, Rau H, Grealis E
et al.(2021). Energy Research & Social Science 72: 101881
Preparedness of Young People for a Sustainable Lifestyle: Awareness and Willingness
by Anastazija Dimitrova
Sustainability 2021, 13, 7204.(2021)
Socio-economic conditions for satisfying human needs at low energy use
An international analysis of social provisioning
by Jefim Vogel
Prepare developed democracies for long-run economic slowdowns
by Matthew G. Burgess , Amanda R. Carrico , Steven D. Gaines, Alessandro Peri and Steve Vanderheiden
Nature Human Behavior 5, 1608–1621 (2021).
2020
A systematic reiew of the evidence on decoupling of GDP, resource use and GHG emissions, part II: synthesizing the insights
by Helmut Haberl, Dominik Wiedenhofer, Doris Virág, Gerald Kalt, Barbara Plank, Paul Brockway, Tomer Fishman, Daniel Hausknost, Fridolin Krausmann, Bartholomäus Leon-Gruchalski
Environmental Research Letters15: 065003 (2020).
A Societal Transformation Scenario for Staying Below 1.5°C
by Kai Kuhnhenn, Luis Costa, Eva Mahnke, Linda Schneider, and Steffen Lange
Berlin and Leipzig: Heinrich Böll Foundation and Konzeptwerk Neue Ökonomie (2020).
Consumption-based carbon accounting: sense and sensibility
by Arnold Tukker, Hector Pollitt & Maurits Henkemans
Climate Policy, 20:sup1, S1 S13, DOI (2020)
1.5-Degree Lifestyles
Targets and options for reducing lifestyle carbon footprints Institute for Global Environmental Strategies
by Akenji, L.
Aalto University and D-mat ltd (2020),
New Conceptions of Sufficient Home Size in High Income Countries
Are we Approaching a Sustainable Consumption Transition?
by Cohen, M. J.
Housing, Theory and Society, 1 31 (2020)
Theories of Practices: Agency, Technology, and Culture
Exploring the relevance of practice theories for the governance of sustainable consumption practices in the new world-order
by Spaargaren, G.
Global Environmental Change 21, 813-822. (2011)
Quantifying the potential for climate change mitigation of consumption options
by Ivanova, D., Barrett, J., Wiedenhofer, D., Macura, B., Callaghan, M., & Creutzig, F.
Nat Energy 6, 766–768Environmental Research Letters, 15(9), 093001(2021).
Wellbeing matters: Tackling growth dependency
An economy that works: Briefing Paper 3.
by Jackson, T .
Report for the UK All Party Parliamentary Group on Limits to Growth February(2020).
A Just Green Transition
by SAMAK
A follow-up on the SAMAK Nordic
climate summit in Copenhagen on January 29, 2020
The limits of energy sufficiency
A review of the evidence for rebound effects and negative spillovers from behavioural change.
by Sorrell, S., Gatersleben, B. & Druckman, A .
Energy Research & Social Science, 64, p.101439.(2020).
Pathways to 1.5-degree lifestyles by 2030
Happier with less?
Members of European environmental grassroots initiatives reconcile lower carbon footprints with higher life satisfaction and income increases
Scientists’ warning on affluence
Power and Politics in Sustainable Consumption Research and Practice
Isenhour, C., Martiskainen, M. & Middlemiss, L. (Eds.)
London: Routledge-SCORAI Studies in Sustainable Consumption (2019).
The political economy of car dependence
A systems of provision approach.
by Mattioli, G., Roberts, C., Steinberger, J., & Brown, A
Energy Research & Social Science, 66, 101486. (2020).
Providing decent living with minimum energy:
A global scenario.
by Millward-Hopkins, J., Steinberger, J., Rao, N., & Oswald, Y.
Global Environmental Change, 65, 102168 (2020).
A reexamination on how behavioral interventions can promote household action to limit climate change
by Stern, P. C.
Nature Communications, 11(1), 1-3. (2020).
2019
It starts at home?
Climate policies targeting household consumption and behavioral decisions are key to low-carbon futures
by Dubois, G., Sovacool, B., Aall, C., Nilsson, M., Barbier, C., Herrmann, A., & Dorner, F
Energy Research & Social Science, 52, 144-158. (2019)
Sustainable living
bridging the North-South divide in lifestyles and consumption debates
by Hayward, B. & Roy, J
Annu.Rev.Environ.Resour 44:157–75 (2019)
1.5-Degree Lifestyles
Targets and Options for Reducing Lifestyle Carbon Footprints.
by Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Aalto University, and D-mat ltd
Technical Report. Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, Hayama, Japan. (2019),
Unraveling the claims for (and against) green growth
Introduction to A Research Agenda for Sustainable Consumption Governance
Sufficiency and consumer behaviour
from theory to policy.
Managing Without Growth, Slower by Design, Not Disaster
Measuring Prosperity—Navigating the options
by Walker, C. & T Jackson
CUSP Working Paper No 20. Guildford: University of Surrey (2019)
Energy sufficiency through social innovation in housing,
by Sylvia Lorek, Joachim H. Spangenberg
Energy Policy 126 (2019).
Advancing sustainable consumption and production in cities
A transdisciplinary research and stakeholder engagement framework to address consumption-based emissions and impacts
by Patrick Schröder
Journal of Cleaner Production 213: 114-125 (2019).
2018
Why achieving the Paris Agreement requires reduced overall consumption and production
by Eva Alfredsson
Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy, 14:1, 1-5. (2018)
Critical sustainable consumption
a research agenda
by Anantharaman, M.
Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences 8 (4), 553–561 (2018)
Bjørn, A Pursuing necessary reductions in embedded GHG emissions of developed nations
Will efficiency improvements and changes in consumption get us there?
by Bjørn, A
Global Environmental Change, 52, 314-324.(2018),
Consumption-based GHG emissions of C40 cities
Introduction The fading American dream
Trends in absolute income mobility since 1940
SUFFICIENCY MOVING BEYOND THE GOSPEL OF ECO-EFFICIENCY
Achieving a shorter working week in the UK
Degrowth
Framing the Economy: How to win the case for a better system
by New Economics Foundation
FrameWorks Institute, Public Interest Research Centre PIRC, and NEON. 2018.
The Energy-emissions Trap
by Martin R. Sers, Peter A. Victor
Ecological Economics Volume 151, 10-21 (2018).
Redefining Green Growth within Planetary Boundaries
by Stoknes, Per Espen and Johan Rockström
(2018).
2017
Sustainability and Well-Being
A Happy Synergy
by Barrington-Leigh, Christopher
Great Transition Initiative (April 2017).
Social Change and the Coming of Post-Consumer Society
Theoretical Advances and Policy Implications
by Routledge
Routledge (2017)
Beyond Technology: Demand- Side Solutions for Climate Change Mitigation
by Creutzig, F., Fernandez, B., Haberl, H., Khosla, R., Mulugetta, Y., & Seto, K. C.
Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 41(1), 173–198.(2016),
Global carbon inequality
Documenting decline in U.S. economic mobility
Sociotechnical transitions for deep decarbonization
Global carbon inequality
A NEW HEDONISM A Post-Consumerism Vision
Assessment of Policy Integration of Sustainable Consumption and Production into National Policies
by Koide, R. & Akenji, L.
Resources, 6, 48. (2017)
Doughnut Economics
Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st-Century
by Raworth, K.
Economist, New York: Random House Business Books. (2017).
Lifestyle Leapfrogging
by Schroeder, P., & Anantharaman, M.
in Emerging Economies: Enabling Systemic Shifts to Sustainable Consumption’. Journal of Consumer Policy, 40(1), 3-23.(2017).
Sustainable Consumption
An Important but Ambiguous Concept
by P.J. Vergragt
in James Meadowcroft and Daniel J. Fiorino (eds.) 2017. Conceptual Innovation in Environmental Policy pp 390-425, MIT press.
2016
From Consumerism to Wellbeing
toward a cultural transition?
by Brown, Halina S., and Philip J Vergragt.
Journal of Cleaner Production 132, 308-317. (2016)
2015
Carbon and inequality
from Kyoto to Paris
by Chancel, L., & Piketty, T.
Paris School of Economics, 6. (2015).
Prospects for radical emissions reduction through behavior and lifestyle change
by Capstick, S., Lorenzoni, I., Corner, A., & Whitmarsh, L.
Carbon management, 5(4), 429-445 (2016)
Degrowth
Economics for a Full World
Ecological footprints and lifestyle archetypes
Exploring dimensions of consumption and the transformation needed to achieve urban sustainability
by Moore, J.
Sustainability, 7(4), 4747-4763 (2016)
2014
Sustainable Consumption Corridors
Concept, Objections, and Responses
Handbook of Research on Sustainable Consumption
2013
“Weak” or “strong” sustainable consumption?
Efficiency, degrowth, and the 10 year framework of programmes.
by Hobson K.
Environment and Planning C 31(6):1082–98 (2013).
The Rebound Effect
Implications of Consumer Behaviour for Robust Energy Policies
Strong sustainable consumption governance–precondition for a degrowth path?
Sustainable food consumption
an overview of contemporary issues and policies
by Reisch, L., Eberle, U., & Lorek, S
Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy, 9(2), 7-25. (2013)
2012
Cuing consumerism
Situational materialism undermines personal and social well-being
by Bauer, M. A., Wilkie, J. E., Kim, J. K., & Bodenhausen, G. V.
Psychological Science, 23(5), 517-523. (2012)
Making Peace with the Earth
2011
Selling climate change?
The limitations of social marketing as a strategy for climate change public engagement
by Corner, A. & A. Randall
Global Environmental Change, 21(3): 1005-1014. (2011).
Reviewing the Research
Report of the Commission on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress
In defence of degrowth Ecological Economics
2010
Individual consumption and systemic societal transformation
Introduction to the special issue
by Cohen, M., Brown, H., & Vergragt, P
Sustainability: Science, Practice, & Policy 6(2):6-12 (2010).
Is efficient sufficient?
High income improves evaluation of life but not emotional well-being
Reframing individual responsibility for sustainable consumption
lessons from environmental justice and ecological citizenship
2009
The carbon footprint of UK households 1990–2004
a socio-economically disaggregated, quasi-multi-regional input–output model
by Druckman, A., & Jackson, T.
Ecological economics, 68(7), 2066-2077. (2009).
Prosperity without growth?
The transition to a sustainable economy
Nudge
Improving decisions about health, wealth, and happiness.
The Spirit Level
Why Equality Is Better for Everyone
by Wilkinson, R. & Pickett, L.
2008
Sustainable consumption
Perspectives from social and cultural theory
by Evans, D., & Jackson, T.
RESOLVE Working Paper 05-08, University of Surrey: Guildford. (2008)