Emissions Gap Report 2020 - Chapter 6

This chapter from the technical report Emissions Gap Report 2020 offers an analysis of the pivotal role equitable low-carbon lifestyles play in closing the global emissions gap. It underscores that household consumption accounts for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions, with a stark imbalance between high and low-income groups. Using the Avoid-Shift-Improve framework, the document explores sector-specific pathways—mobility, residential energy, and food—through which lifestyle changes can support climate targets. It presents evidence-based strategies including infrastructure reform, policy incentives, social influence, and citizen participation, with global case studies illustrating scalable interventions. By linking personal behavior to broader structural and systemic shifts, the report demonstrates how low-carbon choices can be normalized, encouraged, and sustained. It concludes with a forward-looking perspective on aligning development goals with environmental integrity, calling for deep-rooted social, cultural, and economic transformation to secure a just and sustainable future. Full report is available at: https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/34426