Mitigating Impacts of Food Production and Consumption on Climate Change: Applications of Behavioral Economics

Abstract

Food consumption and production have been identified as significant contributors to climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. Individual and producer behaviors are critical in making climate-friendly consumption choices and implementing conservation practices in agriculture. This research examined 93 publications and reports that evaluate behavioral and experimental interventions in the domain of consumers’ food choices and producers’ conservation decisions in agriculture, using a narrative review approach. We identify several areas where there are mixed evidence and knowledge gaps. We evaluate these gaps using a framework we devised called CREDIBLE. This systematic framework provides a practical checklist for policymakers and academics to evaluate if their interventions meet critical factors before implementation. The main criteria to evaluate interventions as proposed by our framework are as follows: cost-effectiveness, replicability, evidence-based, durability, identity-respecting, boomerang minimizing, logistical feasibility, and respect for ethics.