Download Research Interests in Climate Change

Research Interests in Climate Change
I am working on a number of projects which are connected with climate change. The
first is a study of “conscious consumers,” individuals for whom ecological
sustainability is a strong motive in their consumer decisions and lifestyle choices. I
have collected a 2000 person sample of a core group of conscious consumers, that is,
people who are early adopters and highly interested in this kind of activity. I have
also been working with the GSS, which asked about boycotting or rewarding
companies for their actions. I am looking at a number of issues with this population,
including their political activism, their understandings of what they are doing, etc.
Ecological footprint, and carbon footprint reduction is at the core of their concerns.
I have also been doing a qualitative project on attitudes to and understandings of
climate change. To date the sample includes 40 interviews. The project is
particularly interested in how climate change is or is not “coded” as a class issue.
The respondents are from a range of socio-economic backgrounds, and include a
significant number of working class individuals.
I have a longstanding interest in ecological economics, and have recently published
a book which lays out a pathway for moving toward a small-scale, ecologically-light,
i.e., climate friendly economy. (It is called Plenitude.) In the next two-three years I
will be working on a number of case studies from the book. They will be studies of
individuals and communities who are involved in a variety of initiatives that reduce
footprint, such as permaculture, small-scale fabrication technology, Transition
Towns, etc.
Finally, I have a long term interest in worktime reduction, particular as it relates to
footprint reduction. I will likely be doing a project on this in the near future.