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Sustainable Consumption in the Baltic States: The Carbon Footprint in the Household Sector

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  • Genovaitė Liobikienė

    (Department of Environmental Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, Studentų Str. 11, LT 53361 Akademija, Lithuania)

  • Jānis Brizga

    (Department of Environmental Science, University of Latvia, LV-1004 Riga, Latvia
    Green Liberty, NGO, LV-1002 Riga, Latvia)

Abstract

Sustainable consumption is one of the main aspects while implementing sustainable development goals. The main feature of sustainable consumption is the reduction of environmental impact. Thus, it is vital to understand and evaluate the environmental impact caused by consumption. In this paper, carbon footprint analyses of the Baltic States for the period of 2000–2019 were used to study sustainable consumption and pro-environmental behavior development. The results show not only how carbon footprint changes in different consumption categories (e.g., mobility, housing, food, and services), but whether it is related to changes in pro-environmental behavior as the promotion of sustainable consumption is crucial to reduce the consumption-based carbon footprint. The results from multi-regional input-output analyses show that in the Baltic States 62–71% of all the household carbon footprint is attributed to the three main consumption categories—transport, food, and housing. These categories are also responsible for 53–56% of the household expenditure. Consequently, changes in our mobility, food consumption, and housing management practices can significantly reduce the household environmental impacts. However, to minimize carbon footprints, behavioral changes are not enough; structural changes in the agro-food, housing, energy, and transport systems are also needed.

Suggested Citation

  • Genovaitė Liobikienė & Jānis Brizga, 2022. "Sustainable Consumption in the Baltic States: The Carbon Footprint in the Household Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-14, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:3:p:1567-:d:737323
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lewis Akenji & Magnus Bengtsson, 2014. "Making Sustainable Consumption and Production the Core of Sustainable Development Goals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(2), pages 1-17, January.
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    1. Dalia Streimikiene & Grigorios L. Kyriakopoulos & Gintare Stankuniene, 2022. "Review of Energy and Climate Plans of Baltic States: The Contribution of Renewables for Energy Production in Households," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-16, October.
    2. Fang Shen & Zibibula Simayi & Shengtian Yang & Yusuyunjiang Mamitimin & Xiaofen Zhang & Yunyi Zhang, 2023. "A Bibliometric Review of Household Carbon Footprint during 2000–2022," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-25, April.

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