Steering consumption patterns

• Target consumption parameters of all sorts are set.  If the individual wants to “consume” more, the extra tax on that consumption should increase exponentially and it should be directed to the funding of proposed measures to combat climate change;

• The content of “automatic” vending machines now stationed at schools, public places of all sorts is to be completely revised.  Non-healthy foods (bars, soft drinks, chips and the like) to be replaced by healthy food.  Vending machines in or near schools should in no case sell junk food & soft drinks of all sorts.

• Massive consumption of goods (based often on impulsive buying – instant satisfaction of an occurring “need”) is to be discouraged actively. This can be done by reducing opening hours of shops. Example: all shops close at 13 hrs on Saturday afternoon and stay closed until Monday.

• Governments are to buy “prime commercials prime time” and aggressively promote desirable behavior (social work, clean-up on local level, support education of woman in developing countries, be a buddy to the homeless - site in Dutch….) and discourage undesirable behavior (stop flying around, fun-shop & buy out of boredom, fulfill all sorts of “needs” to accommodate the “Ego”).

• The service now offered by many (large) internet shops that apply a sales technique of the type “order today before 23 Hrs, delivered tomorrow before 10 Hrs” , thus inducing an undue burden on traffic is to be terminated.  Packages are to be delivered but once in 3 days and transport should be grouped.  Customers should get their packages from local distribution centers easily accessible by public transport;

• Impulsive buying is to be actively discouraged by introducing an obligatory “pause” of 2 days between placing the order and being able to make the payment (checkout & pay with a time lag).  How often do we have second thoughts after the “impulse” we felt for buying something ebbed away…;

• Several measures need to be implemented gradually by governments to be fully effective by 2025:

  • Every world citizen is allowed  250l drinking water/day (this includes sanitary water, water used by dishwashers, washing machines etc);

  • Every world citizen is allowed 250 gr of red meat/week;

  • Every world citizen is allowed 250gr of other meat types / week

  • Every world citizen is allowed 250 gr fish/week;

  • Every world citizen is allowed 1 out- & inbound flight less than 5000 km/year for recreational purposes (or further within the country if it is very large (US, Russia, China…);

  • Every world citizen is allowed 3 out- & inbound flights less than 5000 km/year in order to visit family (or further within the country if it is very large (US, Russia, China…);

  • Every world citizen is allowed 1 out- & inbound intercontinental trip by plane/year for recreational purposes;

  • Every world citizen is allowed max 5 out- & inbound intercontinental trips, one to each continent by plane/year, in order to visit family;

  • Every world citizen is allowed to buy 25 pieces of clothing / shoes / garments per year;

  • Every adult citizen with driving license is allowed to buy one vehicle every 5 years;

  • Every world citizen can replace the smartphone, tablet, computer every 4 years.

  • To be expanded upon….

The above measures are to be implemented by assigning the objects to be bought to a form of “credit” card the individual can use within the respective time delays.