| 摘要: |
| 可持续消费是实现全球可持续发展目标的关键内容之一。如何在增加人类福利的同时，通过践行可持续消费模式以实现生态环境持续健康发展，是我们迫切需要总结和讨论的重要议题。在系统梳理可持续消费概念、必备条件以及可持续消费效果评估的基础上，综述了消费与人类福利的关系以及水足迹视角下消费的环境影响评估研究，通过阐释人类福利、环境影响以及可持续消费模式之间的内在联系，指明当前研究工作中存在的主要问题有：（1）在可持续发展模式实践中，缺少系统、科学、合理、针对性强、有效的“战略指导”和“战略引导”；（2）缺少对可持续消费状态的系统评估和评判标准；（3）虽明确了可持续消费模式优化的方向，但个人实践可持续消费的潜在行为能力仍有待评估；（4）宏观层面的可持续消费机制或约束机制较为缺乏、可持续消费实践研究相对缺位；（5）可持续消费模式与可持续生计关联机制研究较为缺乏。最终反思提出未来应该在以下几个方面深入研究：（1）明确可持续消费的战略定位，完善顶层设计；（2）深化对可持续消费的系统评估，构建科学合理的可持续消费评估指标体系；（3）加强个人实践在可持续消费中潜在行为能力的测度；（4）深入研究宏观层面的可持续消费机制，以推动可持续消费的实践发展；（5）深入研究可持续消费模式与可持续生计关联机制，达成脱贫与长期福利的双赢红利。 |
| 关键词: 可持续消费 人类福利 水足迹 环境影响 |
| DOI：10.7515/JEE201001 |
| CSTR：32259.14.JEE201001 |
| 分类号: |
| 基金项目:教育部人文社会科学研究规划基金项目（19YJAZH076）；国家社会科学基金项目（20FJYB025，17CJY028）；中国科学院战略性先导科技专项（A 类）（XDA23060304） |
| 英文基金项目:MOE (Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China) Project of Humanities and Social Sciences (19YJAZH076); Social Science Foundation of China (20FJYB025, 17CJY028); Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDA23060304) |
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| Sustainable consumption, human well-being and environmental impacts: progress and issues |
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SU Fang, FAN Bingjie, SONG Nini, SHANG Haiyang
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1. School of Economic and Management, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi’an 710021, China
2. Northwest University of Political Science and Law, Xi’an 710122, China
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| Abstract: |
| Background, aim, and scope Sustainable consumption plays a crucial role in achieving the objective of sustainable development on a global scale. With the increase of national income and social development, the growing consumption is regarded by the public as a sign of improved living standards and increased “welfare”. There is a kind of “morbid” in the society with unrestricted consumption, which impedes the sustainability of social development to some extent. Therefore, it is imperative to find a way to increase human welfare while ensuring the sustainable development of ecological environment through sustainable consumption. Based on a systematic analysis of sustainable consumption, preconditions and effect evaluation of sustainable consumption, this paper summarizes the correlation between consumption and human welfare and assesses the environmental impact of consumption from the perspective of water footprint. Materials and methods A review is conducted of the progress made over the past two decades both at home and abroad in the research on sustainable consumption, consumption and human welfare, and environmental impact. Results The excessive and unrestricted consumption of material may have a negative impact on the environment while putting additional strain on resources. A sustainable mode of consumption is a free consumption mode that meets the basic needs of human beings and provides them with the potential of development without affecting the carrying capacity of the earth. The construction of this mode is regarded as a significant method to improve human welfare. Establishing a scientific and rational mode of consumption and reducing some unsustainable consumption are conducive to progressively eliminating the possibility of ecological crisis and increasing human welfare. In the meantime, the purpose of preserving the ecological environment is achieved. Discussion Excessive consumption is bound to have a negative impact on the wider environment. That is to say, the increase of consumption will impose further strain on resources, environment and ecology. Therefore, the practice of sustainable consumption involves a number of core parties, which are consumers, government, enterprises and other stakeholders. They are expected to play a positive role in promoting the practice of sustainable consumption. In the meantime, changing the way of food consumption and reducing the proportion of non-sustainable consumption are not only conducive to preserving the ecological environment, but also to the long-term development of human society, thus increasing human welfare to a certain extent. Conclusions At present, there has been some remarkable progress and achievements made in the research on the environmental impact of sustainable consumption, human welfare and consumption. However, some problems remain unresolved. Firstly, in the practice of sustainable development, there is an absence of systematic, scientific, reasonable, targeted and effective “strategic guidance”. Secondly, there are no well-developed criteria that apply to the systematic assessment and evaluation of sustainable consumption. Thirdly, there is still no evaluation conducted regarding the potential behavioral capacity of individuals in the practice of sustainable consumption. Fourthly, at the macro level, there is an absence of sustainable consumption mechanism or restriction mechanism. Lastly, there is a lack of research on the associated mechanism between sustainable consumption and sustainable livelihood. In order to address the above-mentioned problems, the direction of research to be conducted in the future is indicated. Recommendations and perspectives The further research on sustainable consumption should be focused on the following points. Firstly, the strategic positioning of sustainable consumption shall be clarified and the top-level design shall be improved. Secondly, the systematic assessment of sustainable consumption ought to be deepened and a scientific and reasonable index system shall be put in place for the assessment of sustainable consumption. Thirdly, the measurement of the potential behavioral capacity of individual practice in sustainable consumption needs to be strengthened. Fourthly, the mechanism of sustainable consumption at the macro level shall be studied in depth to promote the practice of sustainable consumption. Lastly, the correlation mechanism between sustainable consumption and sustainable livelihood shall be established. |
| Key words: sustainable consumption human welfare water footprint environmental impact |
