TY - JOUR
T1 - Lifestyle change modelling for climate change mitigation
T2 - Complementary strengths, policy support, and research avenues
AU - Scherer, Laura
AU - van Sluisveld, Mariesse A. E.
AU - Van Den Berg, Nicole J.
AU - Cap, Stephanie
AU - Fuortes, Agnese
AU - de Jager, Lynn
AU - Koide, Ryu
AU - de Koning, Arjan
AU - Marangoni, Giacomo
AU - Rubiconto, Francesca
AU - van Valkengoed, Anne M.
N1 - Data availability
No data was used for the research described in the article.
PY - 2025/11/1
Y1 - 2025/11/1
N2 - Lifestyle changes are an essential, complementary measure for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and, therefore, also an important ingredient to climate policy. Computational models of lifestyle changes and their contribution to climate change mitigation can provide valuable insights in support of decision-making by individuals and policymaking. In this Perspective, we examine four modelling approaches with this in mind: input-output analysis, life cycle assessment, integrated assessment models, and agent-based models. They have different strengths and weaknesses related to spatial and temporal scales, sector representation, consumer heterogeneity, and impact assessment. Despite their differences, all are ultimately suitable for modelling different types of climate-friendly lifestyle changes-from sufficiency over efficiency to modal shift measures. Each modelling approach provides useful, albeit partial, insights into lifestyle changes. The identified challenges call for both continual refinements within individual model frameworks and hybrid methods that bridge their respective strengths and allow for representing lifestyle changes more comprehensively. Together, they inform about the theoretical mitigation potential, initiative feasibility, behavioural plasticity, and policy effectiveness of lifestyle changes. Ultimately, cross-disciplinary collaboration will be key to designing lifestyle-focused policies that are both impactful and acceptable.
AB - Lifestyle changes are an essential, complementary measure for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and, therefore, also an important ingredient to climate policy. Computational models of lifestyle changes and their contribution to climate change mitigation can provide valuable insights in support of decision-making by individuals and policymaking. In this Perspective, we examine four modelling approaches with this in mind: input-output analysis, life cycle assessment, integrated assessment models, and agent-based models. They have different strengths and weaknesses related to spatial and temporal scales, sector representation, consumer heterogeneity, and impact assessment. Despite their differences, all are ultimately suitable for modelling different types of climate-friendly lifestyle changes-from sufficiency over efficiency to modal shift measures. Each modelling approach provides useful, albeit partial, insights into lifestyle changes. The identified challenges call for both continual refinements within individual model frameworks and hybrid methods that bridge their respective strengths and allow for representing lifestyle changes more comprehensively. Together, they inform about the theoretical mitigation potential, initiative feasibility, behavioural plasticity, and policy effectiveness of lifestyle changes. Ultimately, cross-disciplinary collaboration will be key to designing lifestyle-focused policies that are both impactful and acceptable.
KW - Climate-friendly lifestyles
KW - Climate policy
KW - Agent-based modelling
KW - Input-output analysis
KW - Integrated assessment modelling
KW - Life cycle assessment
KW - SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
KW - CONSUMPTION
KW - ENERGY
KW - FRAMEWORK
KW - OPTIONS
KW - IMPACT
U2 - 10.1016/j.envsci.2025.104256
DO - 10.1016/j.envsci.2025.104256
M3 - Article
SN - 1462-9011
VL - 173
JO - Environmental Science & Policy
JF - Environmental Science & Policy
M1 - 104256
ER -