Life course approach for sustainable consumption policy design

The document explores the intersection of life-course transitions, provisioning systems, and sustainable consumption. It suggests that pivotal life events—such as parenthood or retirement—can serve as 'windows of opportunity' for behavioral change, though their impact is often mediated by the accessibility and cost of physical and social provisioning systems. Using a case study of older adults in Bangkok, the brief highlights that factors like urban planning and financial constraints often outweigh environmental concerns in determining transport choices. It calls for targeted policies that address systemic 'lock-in' and prioritize long-term sustainability across all life stages.

• Life transitions, including marriage, parenthood, employment, retirement, and relocation, are viewed as "moments of change" or "windows of opportunity" that can be leveraged to steer individuals toward more sustainable consumption pathways.
• Interventions to promote sustainable consumption are most effective when they are timed to coincide with, or occur shortly after, a life-course transition.
• A case study of older adults in Bangkok's Samphanthawong district revealed that transport choices are primarily driven by convenience, travel time, accessibility, and parking availability rather than environmental concerns.
• In the Bangkok study, financial barriers significantly impacted the use of public transport, as the mass rapid transit system was perceived as costly despite the availability of senior discounts.
• Sustainable consumption is hindered by 'lock-in', where existing infrastructure and societal habits create a persistent dependence on environmentally damaging products and practices.
• Provisioning systems—the physical and social elements that transform resources to satisfy human needs—vary by country and culture, and their design significantly shapes individual consumption habits.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2024). Life course approach for sustainable consumption policy design. https://www.sei.org/publications/life-course-approach-for-sustainable-consumption-policy-design/

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Life course approach for sustainable consumption policy design. 2024. https://www.sei.org/publications/life-course-approach-for-sustainable-consumption-policy-design/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Life course approach for sustainable consumption policy design |date=6 December 2024 |url=https://www.sei.org/publications/life-course-approach-for-sustainable-consumption-policy-design/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2024life, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Life course approach for sustainable consumption policy design}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2024}, month = dec, url = {https://www.sei.org/publications/life-course-approach-for-sustainable-consumption-policy-design/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }