Capital consumption

Abstract

How can London reduce its consumption based carbon dioxide emissions by 90% by 2050? The Capital Consumption report has modelled one scenario, based on expert research, to show how this can be achieved in the city. This paper will present the findings of the report. Capital consumption aims to create an evidence base on the climate impacts of consumption in London, to provide a better understanding of the scale and breadth of action needed across all sectors to put London on a more sustainable footing, and to identify key opportunities for London to take effective action. The research is informative for anyone interested in sustainability and could be applied to other cities and regions. The report has the following characteristics: • It models consumption based CO2 emissions and so takes into account the embodied carbon emissions of items consumed in London but manufactured elsewhere - such as consumer goods, construction materials and food • It is London-specific and identifies opportunities for city-level action to catalyse change • It considers CO2 savings through changes in both consumption and production • It uses a carbon budgeting approach to define the desired reduction pathway The measures modelled in the report are stretching and ambitious, they are unlikely to be achieved by action only within London. As the supply chains and policy contexts influencing consumption in London are global in scope, responsibility for bringing about the measures must be shared between governments at all levels, businesses and consumers.