The Influence Of Sustainable Consumption

In recent years, accompany with the climate crisis, for example, global warming, melting glaciers, rising sea levels, forest demolishes, landslides, heat waves, cold waves, droughts, floods and other extreme weather events, exacerbated energy security, food security and water security and other issues. More than half the world’s population now lives in urban areas, which consume 75 percent of natural resources, produce 60 to 80 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, and generate 50 percent of all waste (USDN, 2015). In recognition of the critical position that cities have an influence of sustainability, the concept of sustainable consumption emerged.

This chapter focuses on the consumption choices at the individual level, rather than government

United Nations often considers sustainable consumption and production together as “a holistic approach to minimizing the negative environmental impacts from consumption and production systems while promoting quality of life for all” (Young, William, 2010).

In order to achieve sustainable consumption, two developments have to take place: it requires both an increase in the efficiency of consumption and reductions in consumption levels. Taking into consideration those two approaches to sustainable consumption, it is evident that individual consumers play a key role.

These developments can help move an individual’s consumption in the direction of sustainable practices, include:

 Repair and maintain products to extend the useful life.

 Reuse of

The United Nations Environment Programme study reported that for industrialized countries, housing, mobility, food, and manufactured products typically accounted for more than 70 percent of the impacts of household consumption.

The three categories of house, transportation and food account for more than 60 percent of consumption expenditure and together are responsible for 70–80 percent of the overall environmental impacts of consumption.

Accordingly, avoided production can yield significant benefits. Sustainable consumption activities, including repair and maintenance to extend the life of existing products, reuse, and reducing idle capacity through sharing or rental, can help reduce these environmental impacts.

Cities can influence consumption in high-impact sectors through such policies and programs as building codes, energy supplies, renewable energy production, energy efficiency, land use planning, transit and transportation infrastructure, local food systems, education, waste reduction, and procurement.

4.3 Repair, reuse, and rental of