Limits to consumption : sustainable consumption considering planetary boundaries

This paper presents the results of the second work package of the project "Limits of Consumption: Sustainable Consumption Considering Planetary Boundaries" conducted on behalf of the German Environment Agency. The focus of the work package was the quantification of consumption boundaries for Germany, illustrated through different consumption patterns. Within the framework of the project, eleven goods or mixed goods (product basket) were selected that are representative of the consumption areas ofmobility, housing, leisure, clothing and food. The goods considered are milk, passenger car, public transport, (electric) bicycle, air travel, pet, living space, household appliances (white goods), cotton, ICT devices and electricity. For these goods, the environmental impacts relevant within the concept of planetary boundaries, based on the publication by Steffen et al. (2015), were determined. The background system of the GreenSupreme RESCUE scenario1 was used to map the environmental impacts that still exist even after the transformation towards a greenhouse gas-neutral society (Dittrich et al. 2020). For the consumption area food, the Lancet study by Willet et al. (2019) was used complementary. Additionally, variations for three goods (cars, cotton and housing) were examined. Consumption patterns were elaborated that are compatible with today's patterns. For thispurpose, average ranges of today's demand of private households for the above goods or product baskets were researched and typical patterns identified. Based on the average demand of private households for the goods in the GreenSupreme RESCUE scenario, the typical consumption patterns of today were transferred and the environmental impacts relevant within the planetary boundaries were calculated in a specially designed "consumption calculator". If the environmental impacts exceeded the planetary boundaries, the consumption quantity was changed until the planetary boundaries were met. The identified consumption patterns within the planetary boundaries were thus, presented in the form of six different personas. These personas, or consumption patterns, are largely sustainable and predominantly within the planetary boundaries. This emphasizes that a good life is possible within the planetary boundaries. However, the results also show that the central consumption areas, food, housing and mobility, are of particular environmental relevance. In the future, private consumption must be adapted accordingly in at least one of the central consumption areas. Subsequently, the developed personas in this project can be used for orientation and identification in this regard.