The Gap between Citizens’ Concerns and Consumers’ Actions: Which Factors Impair the Adoption of Food-related Mitigation Options?

Abstract

The main aim of this contribution is to identify factors that influence consumers’ willingness to adopt food-related options to mitigate climate change and reveal how these factors are interlinked. In-depth interviews were carried out with 32 consumers in Germany, France and the UK; the results were analyzed and described in the context of Alphabet Theory. The allocation of findings from the interviews to the theoretical framework helps to identify interrelations, to provide explanations and thereby achieve to take a holistic view on the topic, without neglecting contextual information. The findings of this study indicate that a higher level of knowledge will result in more personal responsibility assumed by the consumers and will increase their willingness to adopt mitigation options. Hence, it is relevant to enhance consumers’ knowledge on climate-friendly food choices through broad public information campaigns and education programs.