Within the Nordic Council of Ministers’ program for sustainable lifestyles in the Nordics, NIKK has produced a research overview to make visible and challenge gender stereotypes in relation to consumption and lifestyle, and contribute to a better understanding of how differences arise, and how they are reinforced and reproduced.

Sustainable production and consumption, goal 12 in Agenda 2030, has been identified as one of the areas where the Nordic countries face the greatest challenges in the work for sustainable development. The overall international research situation regarding the climate impact of individuals’ consumption patterns shows, among other things, that socio-demographic factors such as gender, income and ethnicity have a great explanatory value. Research also shows that inequality itself, especially in high-income countries, leads to increased emissions from consumption.