Consumption from an average Swede causes a carbon dioxide emission of about seven tonnes per year. This figure can be lowered to just over four tonnes according to calculations made by climate researcher Annika Karlsson Kanyama at the Royal Institute of Technology / Mistra. The conclusion is that you can manage a large part of your 10-year goal already tomorrow. According to the UN Climate Panel, emissions should be halved by 2030.

1. Stop flying on vacation and end with car vacation. Instead, you can make a long trip by train in Europe and travel by train and bus in Sweden, and choose activities at home such as courses, culture and so on. This reduces emissions from holiday trips by around 85 percent.

2. Skipping meat and dairy products. Replace with plant-based foods (including vegetarian prepared foods) and locally produced vegetables. It reduces emissions from food by 40 percent. Then you can still eat fish, eggs, soft drinks and sweets, etc.

3. Renovate furniture and buy used ones instead of new ones. This reduces emissions from interior decoration by 50 percent.

Can give a hug

Together, the three changes reduce emissions from consumption by about 37 percent.

- It's a lot and it's great, because we have to start a transition here and now. I am happy with the figure, says Annika Karlsson Kanyama.

But haven't you heard that you should stop flying and eat meat?

- Yes, but then it is very general. We have gone down to the level of detail and have very concrete figures on what this means.

The individual's responsibility?

How likely are people to abandon flights and meat?

- I think this could reinforce a trend that already exists, eating plant-based, buying second hand, and questioning flying equally. It can reinforce the behavior of those who have already started thinking about this. With these numbers you can see that it matters.

But should one place the responsibility on the individual? Aren't emissions a societal problem?

- Yes, it is important that politicians and companies are involved in the transition, but it is slow. and everyone must join in and help. If more households make this transition, it gives a clear signal to politicians to act.

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See Annika Carlsson Kanyama, researcher at KTH, tell us what each one can do for the climate in Aktuellt .. Photo: SVT