Promotion of sufficient living to reduce CO₂ emissions: the example of the tourism industry: an interdisciplinary analysis

The global climate system is currently warming due to the increase in CO₂ emissions caused by humans. Technically oriented efficiency strategies are seen more frequently as solutions to reach the European Union’s maximum two degrees Celsius target. Companies play an important role in limiting climate change and must either prepare for such consequences or adopt new strategies such as the sufficiency strategy.

This article will discuss how the sufficiency strategy and the promotion of sufficient living in the context of the tourism industry can contribute to reducing CO₂ emissions. Most common approaches toward sufficient living found in literature will be identified, analysed and discussed. Based on chosen keywords, the most common approaches were identified through a literature review of relevant journals from 1989 to 2014. Four main research fields that can promote sufficient living and reduce CO₂ emissions were identified. Based on the prospects of the companies, it is apparent that sufficient strategies are not only able to support a market-orientated corporate management but also promote sufficient living and thus reduce CO₂ emissions.