Household action can play major role in climate change fight - study

Publishing their findings in Nature Communications, an international group of researchers reveal that the impact of changes in consumption patterns related to mobility and services could contribute 11.8% and 10.2% of emission reductions, respectively.

As the University of Birmingham prepares to contribute to this year’s COP30 environmental summit in Brazil, the experts note that North America shows substantial reduction potential, while some Sub-Saharan African countries present unexpected mitigation possibilities.

The corresponding author, Dr Yuli Shan, from, the University of Birmingham, commented: “Our study shows that adopting low-carbon lifestyles can play a pivotal role in mitigating climate change. By targeting high-emitting households, we can achieve significant carbon reductions and move closer to our global climate targets.”

Researchers analysed household expenditure data targeting households exceeding the global per-capita average required to stay below 2 degrees Celsius — providing a comprehensive analysis of the carbon reduction potential of various low-carbon actions.

Dr. Yuru Guan, the first author of the study, commented: “This study, a key component of my doctoral thesis, demonstrates that adopting consumption-based low-carbon strategies is essential for climate mitigation.” Dr Yuru Guan has recently received her doctoral degree from the University of Groningen and now works as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Birmingham.

Their findings underscore the importance of engaging consumers in addressing climate change -highlighting the need for equitable measures that target high emitters while supporting those facing barriers to low-carbon transitions, such as energy poverty.

The other corresponding author, Professor Klaus Hubacek, from the University of Groningen, commented: “This research provides valuable insights into the potential of lifestyle changes for reducing carbon footprints. It is crucial for policymakers to consider these findings and implement strategies that encourage sustainable consumption patterns.”