Periodic Reporting for period 1 - EU 1.5 Lifestyles (Policies and tools for mainstreaming 1.5° Lifestyles)
Reporting period: 2021-05-01 to 2022-10-31
Ensuring a safe life on Earth, our key priority should be achieving the climate goals of the Paris Agreement that entered into force in 2016. The EU 1.5° Lifestyles projects intends to foster the mainstreaming of 1.5° lifestyles in European countries and to facilitate societal, economic and political transformations suggested by the 1.5°Celsius target. In this effort, it focuses on the lifestyles of households or individuals as well as the structural factors shaping lifestyles and their ecological impacts.
Previous efforts to realise demand-side changes have been impeded by several factors. First, there is very limited quantitative data showing how much a specific change in lifestyle would contribute to climate change mitigation. Thus, policy makers lack information on which measures to prioritise, and citizens lack guidance on making informed choices. Second, there is only limited evidence of public acceptance of drastic changes in need to realise sustainable lifestyles. This has unfortunately led to weak and uncoordinated political strategies, unable to meet the scale and urgency of the transition to sustainable lifestyles. Third, policies have usually promoted changes in individual behaviour without addressing structural constraints. This has led to ineffective policies that also frustrate citizens and other actors that really wish and want to make sustainable lifestyle choices.
By addressing all three of the above issues, EU 1.5° Lifestyles recognises the importance of political acceptance for change, demonstrates potential contributions of individuals and households, and clearly articulates where limited activity by households needs intervention from policy and structural changes – such as in welfare and provisioning systems. Against this background, the objectives of EU 1.5° Lifestyles were to quantify country-specific reduction targets (for all EU countries plus three G20 countries from the Global South) and qualitatively examine sustainable lifestyle options of households as well as the structural barriers or enablers of 1.5° lifestyles. The latter required gaining a better understanding of, firstly, how lifestyles are shaped by political, economic, technological and societal structures, secondly, what risks and unintended consequences (e.g. rebound effects) can occur in shifts towards 1.5° lifestyles at the household level, and thirdly, what models of welfare and businesses are compatible with a future ‘1.5° society’.
Previous efforts to realise demand-side changes have been impeded by several factors. First, there is very limited quantitative data showing how much a specific change in lifestyle would contribute to climate change mitigation. Thus, policy makers lack information on which measures to prioritise, and citizens lack guidance on making informed choices. Second, there is only limited evidence of public acceptance of drastic changes in need to realise sustainable lifestyles. This has unfortunately led to weak and uncoordinated political strategies, unable to meet the scale and urgency of the transition to sustainable lifestyles. Third, policies have usually promoted changes in individual behaviour without addressing structural constraints. This has led to ineffective policies that also frustrate citizens and other actors that really wish and want to make sustainable lifestyle choices.
By addressing all three of the above issues, EU 1.5° Lifestyles recognises the importance of political acceptance for change, demonstrates potential contributions of individuals and households, and clearly articulates where limited activity by households needs intervention from policy and structural changes – such as in welfare and provisioning systems. Against this background, the objectives of EU 1.5° Lifestyles were to quantify country-specific reduction targets (for all EU countries plus three G20 countries from the Global South) and qualitatively examine sustainable lifestyle options of households as well as the structural barriers or enablers of 1.5° lifestyles. The latter required gaining a better understanding of, firstly, how lifestyles are shaped by political, economic, technological and societal structures, secondly, what risks and unintended consequences (e.g. rebound effects) can occur in shifts towards 1.5° lifestyles at the household level, and thirdly, what models of welfare and businesses are compatible with a future ‘1.5° society’.
WWork to date has focussed on four pathways towards fostering our understanding of and transition to 1.5° lifestyles:
Firstly, the data set EXIOBASE 3 was used to quantify gaps in lifestyle carbon footprints for all EU countries plus three G20 countries from the Global South. These projected lifestyle carbon footprint gaps, together with estimated reduction potentials for over 40 lifestyle options, will inform lifestyle adaptation pathways to a future 1.5° world in 2030 and 2050 for EU countries.
Secondly, for a qualitative account of transformative options for shifts to low-carbon lifestyles at household level, a systematic literature review was conducted and a short list of 50 low-carbon lifestyle options created. The insights gained with respect to household attitudes, motivations, behaviour and conditions of acceptance were substantiated with expert interviews as well as interviews with individuals already pursuing a 1.5° compatible lifestyle. To engage with citizens about their options for change and assess barriers and enables of their adoption at the household level, the selected lifestyle options were discussed as part of a first round of Citizen Thinking Labs, conducted in Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Spain and Sweden. The labs illustrated these options e.g. with a puzzle game to visualise the footprint reduction options in a playful way and explore household potentials and barriers.
Thirdly, work focusing on structural barriers and enablers for lifestyle shifts involved a systematic literature review, which resulted in a list of over ~100 economic, political, societal, and technological structures asserted as impactful in the literature. A delphi ranking process subsequently condensed this list down to 22 key barriers and enablers. In semi-structured interviews, then, experts evaluated and ranked these 22 structures by perceived significance. Moreover, Stakeholder Thinking Labs in Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Spain and Sweden were designed to further explore these structural barriers and enablers.
Fourthly, in line with the overall objective of fostering the mainstreaming of 1.5° lifestyles, a large variety of communication and dissemination activities were pursued. Citizens, policy-makers, and other stakeholders such as the scientific community were informed via conferences, webinars, interviews, social media, websites, newsletters, and public events regarding current research processes and insights on 1.5° Lifestyles.
To sum up: Numerous identifiable and quantifiable lifestyle options with the potential to reduce household footprints exist. However, our analysis shows the importance of focussing on the most impactful ones and reducing hurdles for their adoption to allow for an effective transition and not frustrate households or waste time on ineffective policies. Likewise, our results highlight the need to address deeply ingrained barriers for a transformation to 1.5° lifestyles and societies, such as the drive towards economic growth.
Firstly, the data set EXIOBASE 3 was used to quantify gaps in lifestyle carbon footprints for all EU countries plus three G20 countries from the Global South. These projected lifestyle carbon footprint gaps, together with estimated reduction potentials for over 40 lifestyle options, will inform lifestyle adaptation pathways to a future 1.5° world in 2030 and 2050 for EU countries.
Secondly, for a qualitative account of transformative options for shifts to low-carbon lifestyles at household level, a systematic literature review was conducted and a short list of 50 low-carbon lifestyle options created. The insights gained with respect to household attitudes, motivations, behaviour and conditions of acceptance were substantiated with expert interviews as well as interviews with individuals already pursuing a 1.5° compatible lifestyle. To engage with citizens about their options for change and assess barriers and enables of their adoption at the household level, the selected lifestyle options were discussed as part of a first round of Citizen Thinking Labs, conducted in Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Spain and Sweden. The labs illustrated these options e.g. with a puzzle game to visualise the footprint reduction options in a playful way and explore household potentials and barriers.
Thirdly, work focusing on structural barriers and enablers for lifestyle shifts involved a systematic literature review, which resulted in a list of over ~100 economic, political, societal, and technological structures asserted as impactful in the literature. A delphi ranking process subsequently condensed this list down to 22 key barriers and enablers. In semi-structured interviews, then, experts evaluated and ranked these 22 structures by perceived significance. Moreover, Stakeholder Thinking Labs in Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Spain and Sweden were designed to further explore these structural barriers and enablers.
Fourthly, in line with the overall objective of fostering the mainstreaming of 1.5° lifestyles, a large variety of communication and dissemination activities were pursued. Citizens, policy-makers, and other stakeholders such as the scientific community were informed via conferences, webinars, interviews, social media, websites, newsletters, and public events regarding current research processes and insights on 1.5° Lifestyles.
To sum up: Numerous identifiable and quantifiable lifestyle options with the potential to reduce household footprints exist. However, our analysis shows the importance of focussing on the most impactful ones and reducing hurdles for their adoption to allow for an effective transition and not frustrate households or waste time on ineffective policies. Likewise, our results highlight the need to address deeply ingrained barriers for a transformation to 1.5° lifestyles and societies, such as the drive towards economic growth.
EU 1.5° Lifestyles pushes beyond the state of the art in quantitative and qualitative, behavioural and structural analysis, as well as in dissemination, including practical guidance for citizens and policy makers.
In the quantitative assessment of lifestyle footprints, we extended projections, considering changes at both the supply and demand sides, to multiple years. We connected the quantitative analysis to strategies at the household level by developing a list of 50 lifestyle options through a systematic literature review, the impact of which was quantified and used to engage with citizens and stakeholders as part of the thinking labs. Another pivotal part of the project focused on the boundaries of what households can do themselves to shift towards 1.5° lifestyles and thus on necessary adaptations of structural contexts. The resulting 22 key structures and our conception of “deep” vs. “shallow” structures helps systematizing the required changes. Both analyses are pivotal for a joint translation of quantitative and qualitative results into effective policy and communication strategies. Throughout the thinking labs and particularly with the jointly developed puzzle game, the project implemented innovative approaches for policy makers and citizens to co-design strategies for 1.5° lifestyles and societies.
Regarding future results from recently started work packages, the project will explicitly address risks of missing intended targets and of unintended consequences as well as scenarios for welfare and business models which are crucial for a comprehensive picture of the societal changes required. Until the end of the project, also including co-creation and dissemination activities at the EU-level, the project will provide impact assessment and guidance regarding the mainstreaming of 1.5° lifestyles for policy makers, citizens, and other relevant stakeholders.
In the quantitative assessment of lifestyle footprints, we extended projections, considering changes at both the supply and demand sides, to multiple years. We connected the quantitative analysis to strategies at the household level by developing a list of 50 lifestyle options through a systematic literature review, the impact of which was quantified and used to engage with citizens and stakeholders as part of the thinking labs. Another pivotal part of the project focused on the boundaries of what households can do themselves to shift towards 1.5° lifestyles and thus on necessary adaptations of structural contexts. The resulting 22 key structures and our conception of “deep” vs. “shallow” structures helps systematizing the required changes. Both analyses are pivotal for a joint translation of quantitative and qualitative results into effective policy and communication strategies. Throughout the thinking labs and particularly with the jointly developed puzzle game, the project implemented innovative approaches for policy makers and citizens to co-design strategies for 1.5° lifestyles and societies.
Regarding future results from recently started work packages, the project will explicitly address risks of missing intended targets and of unintended consequences as well as scenarios for welfare and business models which are crucial for a comprehensive picture of the societal changes required. Until the end of the project, also including co-creation and dissemination activities at the EU-level, the project will provide impact assessment and guidance regarding the mainstreaming of 1.5° lifestyles for policy makers, citizens, and other relevant stakeholders.