DRIVERS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN URBAN INDIA: Social Values, Lifestyles, and Consumer Dynamics in an Emerging Megacity

Book Details:

• Publisher: Springer

• ISBN: 9783030950460

• Language: English

• Binding: Hardback

• Pages: 292

• Publication Year: 2022

• Sale Territory: This edition may not be sold outside India

About the Book:

This groundbreaking study examines the complex relationship between climate change and lifestyle at a sub-national level, specifically focusing on the rapidly growing megacity of Hyderabad, India. Unlike the traditional global dichotomy of 'rich' versus 'poor' countries, the author adopts a novel approach by disaggregating the urban population using a lifestyle typology approach. This methodology, typically used in affluent consumer societies, is applied to a dynamically transforming and socially heterogeneous urban society for the first time.

The research goes beyond income-based differentiation by incorporating India-specific value orientations and social practices to mark social structural differentiation. The study identifies how different lifestyles contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and emphasizes the ambiguity of income-based measures in understanding climate impact.

The book provides a deep analysis of the various socio-economic groups within the megacity, exploring how their lifestyle choices affect personal-level GHG emissions. It critically discusses the inequalities in consumption-based emissions, offering a fresh perspective on urban sustainability in developing countries.

This work is invaluable for researchers and policymakers concerned with climate change, urban development, and socio-economic disparities, offering new insights into how lifestyle choices can influence the global climate crisis.