TY - JOUR
T1 - Christmas tale of (un)sustainability
T2 - Reflecting on consumption and environmental awareness on the streets of Amsterdam
AU - Kopnina, Helen
PY - 2014/2/1
Y1 - 2014/2/1
N2 - In reflecting on Dutch Christmas shoppers, this article will discuss environmental Kuznets curve (EKC), postmaterialist values hypothesis, and ecological modernization theory. According to the EKC hypothesis, while at the initial stages of industrialization material resources are often used unsustainably, continuing industrialization leads to a threshold after which lead to progressively more sustainable technologies. According to the postmaterialist values hypothesis, only wealthier societies can 'afford' to care about the environment, assuming that wealth will lead to development of greater concern about and valuation of environment. Finally, ecological modernization theory postulates that environmental conditions improve with advanced technological development and suggests that enlightened self-interest, economy and ecology can be favourably combined and that productive use of natural resources can be a source of future growth. In generalizing economic, political and social trends in relation to consumption in The Netherlands, the aim of this article is to consider the consequences of Western-style consumption for the enterprise of global development.
AB - In reflecting on Dutch Christmas shoppers, this article will discuss environmental Kuznets curve (EKC), postmaterialist values hypothesis, and ecological modernization theory. According to the EKC hypothesis, while at the initial stages of industrialization material resources are often used unsustainably, continuing industrialization leads to a threshold after which lead to progressively more sustainable technologies. According to the postmaterialist values hypothesis, only wealthier societies can 'afford' to care about the environment, assuming that wealth will lead to development of greater concern about and valuation of environment. Finally, ecological modernization theory postulates that environmental conditions improve with advanced technological development and suggests that enlightened self-interest, economy and ecology can be favourably combined and that productive use of natural resources can be a source of future growth. In generalizing economic, political and social trends in relation to consumption in The Netherlands, the aim of this article is to consider the consequences of Western-style consumption for the enterprise of global development.
KW - Consumption
KW - Ecological modernization theory
KW - Environmental Kuznets curve
KW - Postmaterialist values theory
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84888435203&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.scs.2013.05.004
DO - 10.1016/j.scs.2013.05.004
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84888435203
VL - 10
SP - 65
EP - 71
JO - Sustainable Cities and Society
JF - Sustainable Cities and Society
SN - 2210-6707
ER -