@article{AlfredssonBentssonSzejnwaldBrownetal.2018, author = {Alfredsson, Eva and Bentsson, Magnus and Szejnwald Brown, Halina and Eisenhour, Cindy and Lorek, Sylvia and Stevis, Dimitris and Vergragt, Philip}, title = {Why achieving the Paris Agreement requires reduced overall consumption and production}, series = {Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy}, volume = {14}, journal = {Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy}, number = {1}, issn = {1548-7733}, doi = {10.1080/15487733.2018.1458815}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-106448}, pages = {1 -- 5}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Technological solutions to the challenge of dangerous climate change are urgent and necessary but to be effective they need to be accompanied by reductions in the total level of consumption and production of goods and services. This is for three reasons. First, private consumption and its associated production are among the key drivers of greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions, especially among highly emitting industrialized economies. There is no evidence that decoupling of the economy from GHG emissions is possible at the scale and speed needed. Second, investments in more sustainable infrastructure, including renewable energy, needed in coming decades will require extensive amounts of energy, largely from fossil sources, which will use up a significant share of the two-degree carbon budget. Third, improving the standard of living of the world's poor will consume a major portion of the available carbon allowance. The scholarly community has a responsibility to put the issue of consumption and the associated production on the research and policy agenda.}, language = {en} } @article{BengtssonAlfredssonCohenetal.2018, author = {Bengtsson, Magnus and Alfredsson, Eva and Cohen, Maurie and Lorek, Sylvia and Schroeder, Patrick}, title = {Transforming systems of consumption and production for achieving the sustainable development goals: moving beyond efficiency}, series = {Sustainability Science}, volume = {13}, journal = {Sustainability Science}, number = {6}, doi = {10.1007/s11625-018-0582-1}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-106615}, pages = {1533 -- 1547}, year = {2018}, abstract = {The United Nations formulated the sustainable development goals (SDGs) in 2015 as a comprehensive global policy framework for addressing the most pressing social and environmental challenges currently facing humanity. In this paper, we analyse SDG 12, which aims to ''ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.'' Despite long-standing political recognition of this objective, and ample scientific evidence both on its importance and on the efficacy of various ways of promoting it, the SDGs do not provide clear goals or effective guidance on how to accomplish this urgently needed transformation. Drawing from the growing body of research on sustainable consumption and production (SCP), the paper identifies two dominant vantage points—one focused on promoting more efficient production methods and products (mainly through technological improvement and informed consumer choice) and the other stressing the need to consider also overall volumes of consumption, distributional issues, and related social and institutional changes. We label these two approaches efficiency and systemic. Research shows that while the efficiency approach contains essential elements of a transition to sustainability, it is by itself highly unlikely to bring about sustainable outcomes. Concomitantly, research also finds that volumes of consumption and production are closely associated with environmental impacts, indicating a need to curtail these volumes in ways that safeguard social sustainability, which is unlikely to be possible without a restructuring of existing socioeconomic arrangements. Analysing how these two perspectives are reflected in the SDGs framework, we find that in its current conception, it mainly relies on the efficiency approach. On the basis of this assessment, we conclude that the SDGs represent a partial and inadequate conceptualisation of SCP which will hamper implementation. Based on this determination, this paper provides some suggestions on how governments and other actors involved in SDGs operationalisation could more effectively pursue SCP from a systemic standpoint and use the transformation of systems of consumption and production as a lever for achieving multiple sustainability objectives.}, language = {en} } @article{ChurchLorek2007, author = {Church, Chris and Lorek, Sylvia}, title = {Linking policy and practice in sustainable production and consumption: an assessment of the role of NGOs}, series = {Int. J. Innovation and Sustainable Development}, volume = {2}, journal = {Int. J. Innovation and Sustainable Development}, number = {2}, issn = {240}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-106402}, pages = {230 -- 240}, year = {2007}, abstract = {The paper looks at NGOs activities in Sustainable Production and Consumption and obstacles being faced. It identifies lessons for policymakers seeking to engage civil society and makes recommendations on how academics can co-operate more effectively with civil society. Insights are drawn from recent studies on stakeholder involvement in the international political process and a series of surveys and semi-structured interviews. The authors identify four challenges. Effort should (1) be planned more strategically, (2) link sustainable consumption to current priorities, (3) ensure better links between global and local and (4) NGOs have to better link to other interest groups.}, language = {en} } @article{FuchsDiGiulioGlaabetal.2016, author = {Fuchs, Doris and Di Giulio, Antonietta and Glaab, Katharina and Lorek, Sylvia and Maniates, Michael and Princen, Thomas and Ropke, Inge}, title = {Power: the missing element in sustainable consumption and absolute reductions research and action}, series = {Journal of Cleaner Production}, volume = {132}, journal = {Journal of Cleaner Production}, doi = {10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.02.006}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-106438}, pages = {298 -- 307}, year = {2016}, abstract = {In this essay, we aim to demonstrate the value of a power lens on consumption and absolute reductions. Specifically, we illuminate what we perceive to be a troublesome pattern of neglect of questions of power in research and action on sustainable consumption and absolute reductions. In pursuit of our objectives, we delineate how many of the informal and implicit "theories of social change" of scholars and activists in sustainable consumption and sustainable development fail to address power in a sufficiently explicit, comprehensive and differentiated manner and how that failure translates into insufficient understandings of the drivers of consumption and the potential for and barriers to absolute reductions. Second, we develop the contours of a power lens on sustainable consumption. Third, we illustrate the value of such a power lens, with a particular focus on the case of meat consumption.}, language = {en} } @article{FuchsLorek2005, author = {Fuchs, Doris and Lorek, Sylvia}, title = {Sustainable Consumption Governance - A History of Promises and Failures}, series = {Journal of Consumer Policy}, journal = {Journal of Consumer Policy}, doi = {10.1007/s10603-005-8490-z}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-106377}, pages = {261 -- 288}, year = {2005}, abstract = {What are the implications of the current international political, and economic settings for consumer policy, and, in particular, those regarding sustainable consumption? In terms of improvements in the efficiency of consumption, the settings have induced efforts to this effect and show potential for further progress. In terms of necessary changes in consumption levels and patterns, however, little progress has been made since the Rio Summit nor is there likely to be any in the near future. These two dimensions of sustainable consumption need to be differentiated, as there is a substantial amount of controversy regarding our ability to achieve sustainable consumption on the basis of improvements in efficiency alone. The paper traces these differences with respect to the work of the major international governmental organizations (IGOs) engaged in developing sustainable consumption governance. It argues that the lack of commitment to strong sustainable consumption among IGOs can be explained by their ''weakness'' as actors in global governance and the existence of strong opposing interests among consumers and business actors.}, language = {en} } @book{FuchsSahakianGumpertetal.2021, author = {Fuchs, Doris and Sahakian, Marlyne and Gumpert, Tobias and Gumpert, Antonietta and Maniates, Michael and Lorek, Sylvia and Graf, Antonia}, title = {Consumption Corridors - Living a Good Life within Sustainable Limits}, publisher = {Routledge}, address = {London}, isbn = {9780367748722}, doi = {10.25974/fhms-16057}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-160579}, publisher = {FH M{\"u}nster - University of Applied Sciences}, pages = {110}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Consumption Corridors: Living a Good Life within Sustainable Limits explores how to enhance peoples' chances to live a good life in a world of ecological and social limits. Rejecting familiar recitations of problems of ecological decline and planetary boundaries, this compact book instead offers a spirited explication of what everyone desires: a good life. Fundamental concepts of the good life are explained and explored, as are forces that threaten the good life for all. The remedy, says the book's seven international authors, lies with the concept of consumption corridors, enabled by mechanisms of citizen engagement and deliberative democracy. Across fve concise chapters, readers are invited into conversation about how wellbeing can be enriched by social change that joins "needs satisfaction" with consumerist restraint, social justice, and environmental sustainability. In this endeavour, lower limits of consumption that ensure minimal needs satisfaction for all are important, and enjoy ample precedent. But upper limits to consumption, argue the authors, are equally essential, and attainable, especially in those domains where limits enhance rather than undermine essential freedoms.}, language = {en} } @article{LaamanenWahlenLorek2018, author = {Laamanen, Mikko and Wahlen, Stefan and Lorek, Sylvia}, title = {A moral householding perspective on the sharing economy}, series = {Journal of Cleaner Production}, volume = {202}, journal = {Journal of Cleaner Production}, doi = {10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.08.224}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-106917}, pages = {1220 -- 1227}, year = {2018}, abstract = {In this paper, we scrutinise the sharing economy from a moral householding perspective and evaluate the moral justifications for a sustainable form of the sharing economy. We consider the emergence of normative moral justifications through householding practices that rest on local mobilisation of people in defence of communities and commitments against the adverse impacts of neoliberal market capitalism. Our perspective draws on Karl Polanyi's conceptualisation of householding, that is, autarchic, communistic provision in a closed community. Using timebanking as an example, we illustrate how a moral sharing economy can be mobilised in collective battles against the current neoliberal system of economic crisis. We contribute to the amassing sharing economy literature emphasising a central, yet missing element of the current discourse: householding as practices creating self-sufficiency and autonomy as well as combining both kin and stranger.}, language = {en} } @article{Lorek2014, author = {Lorek, Sylvia}, title = {Veblen's contribution to the analysis of (un-) sustainable consumption - Overvalued and underestimated}, series = {European Journal of Economic and Social Systems}, volume = {26}, journal = {European Journal of Economic and Social Systems}, number = {1-2}, doi = {10.3166/EJESS.26.149-172}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-106424}, pages = {149 -- 172}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Veblen's concept of conspicuous consumption is often cited to explain why consumption habits in our consumer societies tend to be unsustainable and ever increasing. However, much more than blaming individual consumption habits Veblen sharply analyzed quite some of the societal and economic forces which drive the framework conditions for un-sustainable consumption: the vested interests and the absentee ownership. The paper follows the path Veblen's thoughts have taken trough economic and social literature over the last centuryand highlights how the actual sustainable consumption debate could make better use of Veblen's insights e.g. in requesting the constitutive institutions for property. Opportunities for Strong Sustainable Consumption obviously presuppose radical changes, social innovations and thinking out of the box.}, language = {en} } @article{Lorek2021, author = {Lorek, Sylvia}, title = {Equity within ecological limits - Grand Challenge for Sustainable Consumption}, series = {Frontiers in Sustainability}, journal = {Frontiers in Sustainability}, publisher = {Frontiers Media}, doi = {10.25974/fhms-16065}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-160657}, year = {2021}, language = {de} } @article{LorekFuchs2013, author = {Lorek, Sylvia and Fuchs, Doris}, title = {Strong Sustainable Consumption Governance - Precondition For A Degrowth Path?}, series = {Journal of Cleaner Production}, volume = {38}, journal = {Journal of Cleaner Production}, doi = {10.25974/fhms-6155}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-61558}, pages = {36 -- 43}, year = {2013}, language = {en} }