Climate Action 2009-2010

As consumers, our lives are based on goods, services and
activities that depend on the production of greenhouse
gas emissions. Consumption transcends national
boundaries. The businesses that serve consumers are
often international in outlook and well-equipped to play
their part. So the opportunity is there for consumers,
helped by businesses, to lead a green revolution.
THE ROLE OF CONSUMERS
Emissions reduction strategies that are simply imposed
on people cannot realistically achieve anything like the
reductions required to avoid dangerous climate change.
Consumers can play a crucial and powerful role in
plugging the gap. With help and support to change
their behaviour voluntarily and to seek low-carbon
products and services, they can reduce emissions
in the least expensive way, have an immediate and
sustained impact, stimulate competition for low-carbon
innovation by businesses, and empower governments to
enact low-carbon policies.
MAKING LOW-CARBON PRODUCTS
AVAILABLE: INNOVATION AND THE
SUPPLY CHAIN
Sources of emissions are often linked across countries
and continents. Calculating the carbon footprint for the
whole lifecycle of a product can help identify low-carbon
options for different supply chains and human activities.
In particular, lifecycle analysis of products and services
can lead to innovation for tackling emissions “hot spots”.
Given the urgency of the task, SCI will continue to
examine ways to accelerate this business response,
and to ensure it is international in its organisation and
impact.
Applying international accountancy standards would
also make the pursuit and adoption of universally
agreed measures of the carbon content of products and
services more efficient and accessible.
EMPOWERING CONSUMERS
The first step in empowering consumers is to remove
the individual barriers they face when trying to make
low-carbon choices. These barriers are: price –
providing cheaper options and incentives; information
– about the impact of consumer choices on climate
change; and hopelessness – individuals are not acting
alone. If products provide consumers with relevant and
accurate information about the carbon footprint of the
products they use. SCI research showed the next step in
empowering consumers is to change the social context
by making low-carbon behaviours fashionable and
using consumer champions.
Retailers have an important part to play due to their
understanding of the consumer and their influence over
supply chains and the range of products and services
available. Retailers can also contribute by reducing the
carbon footprints of their own operations, such as the
symbol below.
CONCLUSION
Using the combination of strategies explored in the
SCI report will put consumers at the heart of the fight
against climate change. The prize is a powerful and
well-directed movement for change – a consumerdriven
revolution in low-carbon consumption.
Enquiries
Lynda McIntosh, MCIPR, Communications and
Marketing Officer Sustainable Consumption Institute
188 Waterloo Place
The University of Manchester
Oxford Road, Manchester
M13 9PL
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 0161 275 4030
Fax: +44 0161 275 0188
Email: lynda.mcintosh@manchester.ac.uk
Website: www.sci.manchester.ac.uk
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