Consumption based approach to tackling climate change

Capital Consumption: a

consumption based approach to tackling

climate change and the transition to sustainable

consumption and production in London Sue RiddlestoneExecutive Director

BioRegionalLondon Sustainable

Development Commissioner

Introducing BioRegional

BioRegional is an entrepreneurial charity which invents and delivers solutions for sustainability Established in 1994, 40 staff , 8 associated companies & 3 sister organisations in China, South Africa and North America

Sustainable Consumption and Production

• Can we choose a product or service with a lower impact, more durable?

• Achieving more with less

• Do we need this commodity?

• Can we use less of it or reduce waste?

BioRegional projects: demonstrating SCP is possible

BioRegional projects and companies - Local Paper for London (93% EF) - Local charcoal (85% transport CO2) - BedZED eco-village (71% personal CO2)

What would SCP look like for the whole of London?

We modelled using REAP software (developed by Stockholm Environment Institute, York, UK)

• Material flow accounting (PRODCOM data organised by consumption patterns)

• High level data complements LCA

• CO2, GHG & eco-footprint

Benchmarking London’s CO2 emissions

Why count consumption emissions?

• Export of CO2 emissions

• Paints a truer picture (In UK production shows fall 8.5% consumption shows increase 19%)

• We take responsibility rather than pass wholly on to poorer countries

• Increasing recognition Lord Stern

• Only one atmosphere

Production emissions & consumption emissions

What scale of reductions do we need? 9% annually to stay within UK carbon budget

Our UK carbon budget is 2.4 billion tonnes till 2050

Modelling a low carbon London

Eight sectors modelled

Scenario modelled against BAU

Scenario modelled against business as usual which assumes: – projected population growth in London (ONS 2006) – but per capita emissions stay the same

Renewable electricity grid: cross cutting measure

50% renewable electricity95% renewable grid electricity by 2030

4 Benchmarking London emissions

Household energy (22%)

Is achieved with all CCAP measures + 95% renewable grid by 2030 & more microgen

Emissions from personal transport (20%)

Personal transportPersonal transport (22%)

CCAP

Emissions from Food

Food (10% CO2 or 19% GHG)

CO2 arising from consumer goods (12%)

Consumer goods (12%)

Longer lasting clothes & floor coverings?

Classic Well made Low laundry impact Fairtrade Eco-impact reduced

B&Q: New models for retail?

• Reducing impact of own operations• Helping customers to reduce their

impact

Built Infrastructure (9%)

Reduce new

Housing Infrastructure (5%)

Public sector (11%)

CO2 emissions from private services (11%)

Private services (11%)

Combined results of measures modelled

We can do it, but will we do it? • 90% Co2 cut & the measures modelled are

achievable: Energy saving, renewable energy, design to reduce need to travel, more walking & cycling, buying fewer, higher quality, resource efficient & durable goods, cut waste, eat less meat & dairy, fly less.

• It would bring a healthier and better quality lifestyle

• But it requires a shift in consumption patterns, business models & human behaviour. How can we resolve this?

• Convince economists to convince business & politicians?

www.bioregional.comwww.londonsdc.org.uk