Consumption and lifestyles: An alternative perspective on climate change mitigation policies

International audienceCurrent climate policies were developed from a macro-economic approach in a production perspective, and thus have long neglected the issue of lifestyles. Lifestyles are however the result, and a major factor of greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Their integration in emission inventories, through the deduction of exports and inclusion of imports, along with a better understanding of exchanges between economic branches, allows renewing the analysis framework. This approach helps to envisage climate policies based on a convergence of emissions per capita, expressed in terms of lifestyles, articulated with sectoral production objectives. They also pave the way for tools such as a future "carbon VAT". This is however limited by practical constraints and political acceptability. In the short term, dedicated instruments can help raise awareness and involve households, in particular at the local scale. This paper recalls the main elements of these discussions based on recent literature. © 2015 NSS-Dialogues, EDP Sciences