Carbon Footprints Across Europe: Exploring European Emission Lifestyles Through ISSP Environment Survey 2020 Data

This chapter examines how individual behaviours related to mobility, diet, and housing contribute to lifestyle-specific greenhouse gas emissions across 15 European countries. Using data from the 2020 International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) Environment Module, five behavioural clusters are identified: Flyers, Savers, Meat Lovers, Motorists, and Premium Residents. These groups are derived from self-reported behaviours and linked to estimated emissions using average life cycle assessment (LCA) factors. The analysis shows that emission levels vary significantly between groups, particularly in relation to transport and housing. Cluster membership is associated with regional, socio-demographic, and, to a lesser extent, political characteristics. While high-emitting lifestyles are relatively rare, their impact is substantial. At the same time, the most common lifestyle group—Savers—has relatively low emissions but may be shaped by structural limitations rather than deliberate environmental choices. In sum, this chapter contributes to the methodological development of survey-based emission estimation, offers insights into the social patterns behind carbon-intensive lifestyles, and may inform policymakers seeking to design more targeted climate measures.