Barriers to downward carbon emission: Exploring sustainable consumption in the face of the glass floor
The present study explores the constraining forces to reducing greenhouse-gas emissions (GHG) via alternative and/or reduced consumption. The analysis of introspection, netnography, ethnographic work, and 18 interviews demonstrates that needs are not innate human requirements and that consumers are not free and autonomous agents able to incorporate reduce or alternative consumption within their lifestyles. Specifically, our analysis shows the existence of barriers to downward carbon emission. These barriers, which we combined under the concept of the glass floor, represent sociocultural standards preventing our informants from achieving their goal of reducing their carbon footprint. Our findings are presented around two main themes: the social construction of needs and the social imaginary.
The problem of sustainable development and the role of universities of resources, which is the scientific and educational base of the mining industry is discussed. Assessment of management effectiveness of national total capital leading mining countries in the OECD and BRICS is given. On the basis of the Hartwick-Solow criterion proposed investment areas of mineral rents in natural, produced and human capital. The main tasks of the universities resources for the sustainable development of countries with large reserves of mineral resources updated. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n2s4p157