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That globalisation influence our consumption - nearly in every country - is a common place. But which determinants are in charge here? Sustainable consumption and globalisation literature seem to suggest different mechanisms.  

The Project

The Project was initiated by ProSus, the Program for Research and Documentation for a Sustainable Society at the University of Oslo. The resulting report is an inquiry into the impact of globalization on the potential for ‘Sustainable Consumption’ in households. It delineates the meaning of globalisation in the context of houshold consumption, and  traces out the probable effects of globalisation processes on the consumption of food, energy and transport within households. It developes an overview of relevant indicators for measuring change, that is, indicators which aim to capture both the influence of globalisation and the potential for change. The approach is thus much more dynamic and operational than alternative indicator approaches.

The Action Plans

Future research as well as policy has to better consider that

  • the influences of globalization on the sustainability of consumption takes place long before the household makes its decision.
  • the elements of globalization cannot be controlled and modified by one government. Multilateral if not global strategies that directly address those elements are needed.
  • but also to go beyond the traditional discussion of how to prevent the negative influences of globalization, to specifically and explicitly consider the positive potential globalization holds.

Specific contribution by SERI

Sylvia Lorek contributed through selecting the relevant consumption clusters, analysis of the sustainable consumption literature and the development of indicators.