Hinder och lösningar för ett klimatsmart liv

Sammanfattning: Barriers and solutions to reducing the personal carbon footprint 60-70% of the global CO2-emissions are directly related to our lifestyle and changing our behaviour has a huge mitigation potential. However, many find it difficult to change their lifestyle and the factors facilitating personal behavioural change are poorly understood. This study investigates barriers and solutions to behavioural change focusing on two of the most carbon intense behaviours, transportation with a fossil fuelled car, and eating meat and dairy. Through a survey, I studied the thought patterns of individuals who had already reduced their use of a fossil fuelled car, and/or reduced their meat and dairy consumption. I also analysed the respondent´s answers using the theoretical perspectives of ”the power of habit” and cognitive dissonance. Barriers to taking climate action by reducing driving, were mainly “living on the countryside and not having access to public transport”, and social “lock-ins” with tight life-schedules with children, activities, work etc. Solutions identified were mainly “being decisive” and breaking habits to decrease driving, choose public transport, or to use electric vehicles or electric bikes. The financial situation and the social context were also mentioned as solutions. Barriers experienced in terms of diet were mainly “the different preferences of the family”, existing eating habits and the “meat-norm”. Solutions identified were efforts of changing a habit and learning about vegetarian/vegan cooking. In both cases, motivation facilitates actions to act against the norm and to break cognitive dissonance. The results suggest that increasing personal motivation to reduce emissions and more readily available low-emission alternatives can facilitate lifestyle changes on a personal level. The results may lend important insights to ongoing climate mitigation efforts.