Consumption that is sustainable in terms of resources and emissions is not automatically fair, but research can help reveal injustices. For instance, that a small portion of the population is responsible for a large share of the emissions. One way to approach this is through “consumption corridors,” a model defining the maximum and minimum consumption limits that allow everyone to meet their needs without harming each other.
The use of Earth’s resources is closely linked to fairness and justice in various ways, including who has access to resources and who holds power over their use. It also involves whose perspectives define how and why resources are used, or what is even considered a resource (e.g., animals or ecosystems). Environmental degradation and resource depletion often occur at the expense of certain groups of people or species. These injustices are not limited to one time or place; they can span long time periods (e.g., across generations) as well as distances (e.g., between rich and poor countries or densely and sparsely populated areas).
Another crucial and related question is who, what, and which entities are recognized as stakeholders in discussions on sustainable and fair consumption, and who is given a voice and influence.
Further reading:
Sustainable Consumption Corridors
What Local People? Examining the Gállok Mining Conflict and the Rights of the Sámi Population in Terms of Justice and Power
Where Species Don’t Meet: Invisibilized Animals, Urban Nature, and City Limits
About author:
Vishal Parekh
PhD candidate, Division of Strategic Sustainability Studies, KTH, Stockholm
My research focuses on how various societal institutions (non-profit organizations, companies, government agencies) can contribute to achieving sustainable food consumption in Sweden. I am particularly interested in power, justice, and how different interests and logics influence transition projects.
