Is Green Consumption Part of the Solution?

Abstract

Concerns about climate change have prompted a new form of green consuming; people buy commodities that promise to have a lower carbon footprint (LCF) than some other, comparable commodities. This article analyses the concept of green consumption as a solutions for climate change. Individual consumption accounts for a substantial fraction of the nation's carbon emissions, on the order of around 40%. If millions of consumers made the LCF choice, there would be significant reductions in aggregate carbon dioxide emissions. In addition, it would send a powerful signal, encouraging corporations to bring more LCF products to market. This article enumerates the conditions that would have to exist if LCF consuming is ever to become a significant factor in meeting the climate change challenge. It assesses whether these conditions currently exist and explores what would have to be different to create those favorable conditions if they do not exist.