Life course approach for sustainable consumption policy design

This policy brief advocates for a life-course approach to sustainable consumption policy, arguing that life transitions (e.g., retirement, parenthood) provide critical windows for behavioral change. Using a case study of older adults in Bangkok, it highlights that provisioning systems (infrastructure and social structures) and factors like cost and convenience often outweigh environmental values. The authors call for systems-thinking policies that address "lock-in" effects and prioritize absolute consumption reductions to ensure a fair transition to sustainability.

• Life-course transitions, such as marriage, parenthood, employment, retirement, and relocation, are viewed as "moments of change" or "windows of opportunity" that can catalyze shifts toward sustainable consumption. However, evidence on their actual impact remains inconclusive, and research suggests these transitions are complex, fluid processes influenced by financial resources rather than isolated events.
• A case study of older adults in Bangkok's Samphanthawong district revealed that transportation choices are driven more by convenience, travel time, accessibility, and parking availability than by environmental concerns. Financial costs also significantly impact the use of public transport, such as the mass rapid transit system, even when senior discounts are available.
• Provisioning systems—defined as sets of related elements that transform resources to satisfy human needs—can be physical (infrastructure, technology) or social (government, markets). These systems are often locked into destructive production patterns that exacerbate environmental degradation and inequality.
• The concept of "lock-in" describes a persistent dependence on environmentally damaging practices due to existing societal habits or infrastructure, which hinders the transition to sustainable alternatives. Addressing this requires examining consumerist cultures, socio-psychological motivations, and power relationships.
• Effective policy design for sustainable consumption must move beyond efficiency to prioritize absolute reductions in consumption levels. Policymakers should adopt a systems perspective that integrates the triad of consumption, the life course, and provisioning systems to create targeted interventions that are fair and context-specific.

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} }