Analysis: sustainable consumption is not just about consuming less, but consuming differently

The consumption of goods and services bring enormous social and economic benefits, but growing demand also places extreme pressure on natural resources and the environment. Half of all fossil fuels ever used by humans were used in the last 40 years, and primary material extraction has increased fivefold since 1970, displacing thousands of wildlife species and leading to a sixth mass extinction. Shifting patterns of consumption toward more sustainable choices is an important but often underappreciated dimension in addressing key societal problems such as climate change, deforestation, marine pollution and biodiversity loss. Continue reading…