open access publication

Article, 2021

Consumer behavior and climate change: consumers need considerable assistance

Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, ISSN 2352-1554, 2352-1546, Volume 42, Pages 9-14, 10.1016/j.cobeha.2021.02.008

Contributors

Thøgersen, John B 0000-0003-0613-8062 [1]

Affiliations

  1. [1] Aarhus University
  2. [NORA names: AU Aarhus University; University; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD]

Abstract

The mounting research on consumer behavior and climate change is gradually improving our understanding of effective ways to mobilize consumers to mitigate climate change. The relationship between consumer behavior and climate change is complex and most consumers are not capable of determining which behavior changes are worth doing. Research has come a long way identifying the most impactful behavior changes, but more research is needed to refine and situate these insights. The most important implication of the reviewed research is that most focus should be on making climate friendly behavior the easy behavior, in terms of securing a correct reflection of carbon footprint in prices, climate friendly products that compare favorably to unfriendly alternatives, and carbon labeling.

Keywords

alternative, assistance, behavior, behavioral changes, carbon, carbon footprint, carbon labels, changes, climate, climate change, climate friendly behavior, consumer behavior, consumers, effective way, footprint, friendly behavior, implications, labeling, mitigate climate change, mobile consumers, mounting research, price, production, reflection, relationship, research, review research, way

Data Provider: Digital Science