Gender differences in environmental impacts from patterns of transportation - A case study from Sweden

Addressing unsustainable consumption patterns is an important target for fu lfilling the goals set in, among others, Agenda 21 and the United Nations F ramework Convention on Climate Change (1993). Gender differences in consump tion patterns and their environmental impact have so far been poorly invest igated. Gender differences in traveling patterns in Sweden are explored usi ng data fi om the National Travel Survey. Such differences are shown to be large, both in terms of distances traveled, modes of transport, and energy consumption and in terms of emissions of CO2. The average CO2 emissions fro m mens' mode of transportation was 53% higher during 1996 compared to the C O2 emissions from womens' mode of transportation during the same year. This is due to the fact that men travel farther, but also because men travel wi th more energy-demanding vehicles than women. it is argued that those diffe rences cannot be explained by differences in employment rate, but possibly by differences in sectors of employment, holder of a driving license, incom e, and car ownership. Gender differences in social and cultural aspects aff ecting environmental impacts from consumption patterns and lifestyles shoul d not be ignored in further work for a sustainable society.