In the EU FP7 GLAMURS project, we explored main obstacles and prospects for transitions to sustainable lifestyles and a green economy in Europe. GLAMURS explored the complex interactions and links among economic, social, cultural, political and technological factors influencing sustainable lifestyles across societal levels (from individual to social, and from micro- to macro-economic levels), and evaluated comprehensive models of lifestyle change at a European level in key sustainability domains. Sustainable lifestyles were looked at through the lens of time-use and the opportunities and obstacles for their adoption caused by the structure of every day life. We focused on seven European regions as case studies and several sustainability-focused grassroots initiatives spanning different issues, ambitions and lifestyle domains.
Our work also aims for understanding of the demand-side drivers of environmental impacts, including the role of trade, capital requirements, demographic change, and lifestyle shifts. We focus on understanding the dynamics of lifestyle change, including determinants of sustainable lifestyle choices and the effect of macro-economic trends.
The analysis of interactions between bottom-up lifestyle changes and dynamic economic and policy changes has been useful in the exploration of social and economic tipping points, dynamics of lock-in, and the formulation of policy recommendations. Such policies are needed to place European societies onto a path of sustainable lifestyles and green economy development.
Our group further explores the potential that Norwegian households have to mitigate climate change in several projects. In a recent study we evaluated the 34 different actions households may take to cut their carbon footprint by as much as 58%.
