抄録
How should we alter consumption towards more sustainable consumption patterns if we do not know the effects of such alterations? Our attempt was to develop an indicator to evaluate sustainable consumption activities. Combining an empirical panel analysis of the Japanese Panel Survey of Consumers (JPSC) data, on shifts in consumption patterns, and calculations of consumption-based lifecycle CO2 emissions, allowed for the estimating of correlations between new life events and shifts in consumption patterns, and hence the subsequent CO2 emissions from a household. Due to a lack of variables in the data used, nine life events, instead of sustainable consumption activities, were chosen to analyze the impacts to consumption patterns. Unlike cross-sectional data, the use of individual panel data was particularly useful to observe clear differences of mean values in consumption patterns between groups classified according to detailed attributes. Increasing numbers of adult family members and increasing household income were found to be possible major factors that induce CO2 emissions through household living expenditure. Altering physical places of living was a factor that induces CO2 emissions through changes to possession of durable consumer goods. The life events that we chose for analysis are unavoidable by consumers as they are important parts of human’s lives. Therefore, our evaluation tool is not to suggest which life events should be avoided due to high CO2 emissions, but rather provides decision-makers with the factors that must be considered in the process of promoting new environmental activities that have the potential of leading to sustainable consumption.
