The COP26 climate summit is grappling with the question of how we transition to a low carbon world. Part of the debate is whether we need individuals to make significantly different choices, or radical changes to systems — government policies and industries such as energy, food and transportation. A new climate impact report says we need both. For example, it’ll be hard for consumers to make lower impact choices if electric vehicle charging stations or plant-based foods are not widely available.
The comprehensive report 1.5 Degree Lifestyles, from the respected, Berlin-based, think tank Hot or Cool Institute, looks at the carbon emission consequences of both individual lifestyle choices and the economic systems that support them. In a sample of 10 G20 countries, Canada is winning the race — and it’s the wrong race.
1.5-Degree Lifestyles: Towards A Fair Consumption Space For All. Hot and Cool Institute
The above chart shows Canada is trailing behind other major countries in cutting carbon emissions resulting from lifestyle choices. The grey vertical bars on the left show the global carbon emission lifestyle budgets for reaching the 1.5 C Paris climate target. To do so, Canadians would need to cut their footprint by 82% by 2030. (The US emissions footprint is not featured in the report but is similar to Canada’s).
But there is hope. The report shows that while lifestyle choices such as driving fossil fuel-powered cars, eating meat, flying, and large, high energy-consuming homes generate a huge share of GHG emissions, “changing the design, production, and consumption patterns in these areas will address about 75% of environmental impacts.”
1.5-Degree Lifestyles: Towards A Fair Consumption Space For All. Hot and Cool Institute
Looking at how our food is produced and what we eat in particular: Canadians have an average food carbon footprint of 2,270 kg (CO2e per year) of which meat products make up 61%, to which beef is the largest contributor. Dairy products are second highest at 15%, mostly due to cheese and milk consumption. Cereals, vegetables, beans, nuts and fruits are 13% of the total footprint.
“Talking about lifestyle changes is a hot-potato issue for policymakers who are afraid to threaten the lifestyles of voters. This report brings a science-based approach and shows that without addressing lifestyles we will not be able to address climate change” said Dr. Lewis Akenji, the lead author of the study.
But, the report also explores policies governments can implement for system changes to pave the way for greener lifestyles, “rather than focusing on individual behaviour changes, which will not be sufficient to achieve these reductions.”
The report says there is huge potential for reducing emissions in high-income countries with measures such as: electric cars, reducing international flights, consuming plant-forward diets, low-carbon protein instead of red meat, more efficient food production and vehicle fuels, renewable off-grid electricity and renewable energy heating and/or cooling.