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Looking at what we consume

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Looking at the impact of our consumption

Consumption refers to everything that we use in our lives – such as food, energy, products and clothes, as well as services like insurance, healthcare and public transport.

Everything we consume has an environmental impact. In terms of carbon emissions, some are produced within our region, but a lot is produced beyond our borders, where the supply chains of the goods and services we consume extend across the rest of the world. Therefore understanding how we buy and use goods and services is significant if we are to meet our regional and global targets.

Below you will find a draft paper that delves into this topic and sets out actions we can take to address excess consumption and support a low-carbon region. But do you agree? Tell us via the short survey that follows.

Please read the draft paper on consumption, and share your thoughts in the survey below.

Looking at what we consume - final.pdf

pdf

About the paper

The draft paper brings in ideas and expertise from our Commissioners, research, and experts who are tackling the problem across the country, in the region, and on the ground. You can watch the expert speaker session on this topic in the video at the foot of this page.

At this stage, the paper might not give the full picture so we would really value your feedback. The ideas we are discussing affect everyone - we want to know what you think.

So please give your responses in the survey below.

Key messages

The paper outlines a number of ways we can address excess consumption and support a low-carbon region, including:

Promote systems change by shifting subsidies out of industries that encourage high consumption.
Introduce higher taxation on fossil-derived products and resources, whilst ensuring that environmentally positive alternatives are easily accessible.
Introduce universal allowances for water and caps on consumption of energy with taxes applied to those consuming more that the universal allowances.
Develop community wealth-building schemes.
Focus efforts on reducing energy consumption through efficiency and behaviour change, not just transitioning energy production to low-carbon or renewable sources.
Create restrictions on advertising for high-carbon goods and services, promoting low-carbon goods and services.
Support circularity in business models through rewarding use of waste products as raw resources and providing financial support mechanisms for organisations transitioning to or implementing circular practices.
Support and resource people-focused grassroots campaigns and projects that enable sustainable and low-cost consumption.
Improve transparency on the full environmental and social impact of goods and services to allow more informed consumer choices.

What we would like to know

We would like your input to challenge and shape the ideas set out in this first draft.

We are keen to hear from experts on different aspects of consumption, to ensure rigour in our interpretation of the science and social factors underpinning this paper.

We are equally keen to hear the views of people who live and work in Yorkshire and the Humber to ensure our final position paper and actions address the needs of people and communities across the region.

How important do you feel this issue is?

Not important

Very important

How confident are you that the issue is being addressed at present?

Not at all confident

Very confident

In what capacity are you responding?

Select one or more options

Add something else

If you are responding in a professional capacity, which of these best describes the organisation you work for?

Select one option

Add something else

Why do you think this issue is important for Yorkshire and the Humber?

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Add something else

To what extent do you think enough is happening now to address this issue within Yorkshire and the Humber?

Not enough

Enough

Do you think it's possible to do more to address this issue in Yorkshire and the Humber without significant changes in national policies?

Not at all possible

Definitely possible

Do you agree with the themes highlighted for regional progress towards how we address consumption issues? (Select all the ones you agree with. If you have suggestions of others, please tell us)

Select one or more options

Add something else

Which of these actions do you think are most important in enabling us to address this issue within Yorkshire and the Humber?

Sort in order of importance, with most important at the top.

How confident do you feel that the issue would be addressed if the proposals set out in this report were adopted?

Not at all confident

Very confident

Have we missed anything that could help address this issue?

Should anything in the paper be removed or changed?

What other suggestions do you have about regional actions that could help to address consumption?

If you have any relevant resources you'd like to share with us, please upload them here

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A recording of the Delivering Impact session on consumption is available to view below.

If you do not wish to view the video, click 'next' to submit your survey.

We heard from four expert speakers during this session on 6 September 2023, each presenting their perspectives on consumption and its implications in and beyond Yorkshire and the Humber. The speakers, panel and other attendees then discussed the opportunities and the actions we could take as a region.

Leonora Grcheva, Doughnut Economics Action Lab
Lucie Middlemiss, University of Leeds
Rob Greenland, Consultant
Grace Anthony, GOOD Agency

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Looking at what we consume

Please read the draft paper on consumption, and share your thoughts in the survey below.

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