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Climate Access/USDN Smart Shift: communicating about sustainable consumption

“Cities committed to sustainability and acting on climate change are finding it increasingly important to turn their attention to the issue of consumption and the impact the products that city residents buy have on a range of indicators, including resource and energy use, carbon emissions, and the creation of waste. Given the pervasiveness of consumption in the culture and economy, gaining support within municipal governments to initiate programs can be a challenge as well as with the public. Through the Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN), cities have come together to foster innovation in sustainable consumption and from that, the Sustainable Consumption Toolkit has been created and is being used to advance programs in dozens of communities. USDN commissioned Climate Access to expand on the strategic communication guidance available in the toolkit by developing framing and engagement approaches that can help generate buy-in and advance programs to shift consumption patterns.” (p.2)