Tomorrow (March 20) is the first day of spring! Happy first day of spring! I could not be more excited. Say goodbye to seasonal depression and hello to relaxing on the HUB lawn. Normally, I would celebrate with a free cup of water ice from Rita’s. This year, however, the event has been canceled. But I refuse to let that get me down!

So far on this climate change blog, we have discussed history, the role of the U.S., the role of universities, and the relationship between awareness and action. Today, I will discuss the role of the consumer. What can consumers do to minimize climate change? Do consumers even care about climate change. It’s time to find out.

According to a study in 2015, 60 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions are a result of the production and use of household goods and services. These results suggest that consumer behavior has a very big impact on climate change. In fact, with online shopping becoming more prevalent during the pandemic, waste and emissions are increasing. More packaging and increased travel for distribution both contribute to higher emissions.

Awareness surrounding climate change is increasing, but so is consumer behavior that causes climate change. So, how much do consumers actually care about their behavior? Actually, yes. According to a Nielson global survey study, 81% of global respondents feel strongly that companies should help improve the environment. Another study found that more than 70% of respondents were concerned on some level about climate change, and specifically about how their consumer behavior affects climate change. Despite the challenges introduced by the pandemic, it seems that consumers are concerned about the effects their behavior has on climate change. An IPSOS 2019 study found the percentage of consumers who have changed the products and and services they use due to concerns about climate change. India was at the top with 88% of consumers, Japan had the fewest at 31%, and the United States occupied a spot close to the bottom at 56%. These numbers are promising, but there is still more to be done.

Consumers can play a role in combating climate change through many changes in behavior. An interview with the co-founder of the Climate Accountability Institute revealed that replacing showerheads, insulating hot water heaters, buying more efficient lights, having automatic controls for thermostats, combining trips, and traveling by air less often can all reduce carbon emissions. Additionally, although “there would be a lot of digits behind the zero in terms of percent of global emissions attributable to or savable by an individual”, there are seven billion people on the planet, and these things add up. Moreover, consumer behavior affects producer behavior and the ripple effect could result in a lot of change. Other methods of changing consumer behavior include opting for electric or hybrid cars, fluorescent light bulbs, reusable grocery bags, and public transportation. Even having a more sustainable diet can have a big impact. While these actions are small, they accumulate to produce large effects.

Research shows that consumers care about how their behavior impacts climate change. Evidence also shows that changing consumer behavior can have a significant impact on climate change prognosis. The next step is changing awareness and concern into action. While many consumers are incorporating more sustainable behaviors into their buying routine, more can be done. There are many different ways to make these changes, it is up to us to start taking action.