Responsible Consumption and Production in the Context of Sustainable Cities

Abstract

Municipalities are key players in their role as sustainable development planners and have a responsibility to change behavior at the local level. This study uses a panel of French municipalities to explore their role in promoting responsible consumption and production practices. A questionnaire was set up to obtain data from 186 citizens, of which 77 come from rural areas and 109 from urban zones. The findings reveal that French municipalities have a wide influence on the consumption and more responsible production of individuals through their actions. They encourage inhabitants to reduce energy and water consumption, waste management, and local and organic consumption. French citizens are mainly influenced by social and economic factors, while political and marketing factors are of little relevance. Furthermore, there are no differences in the importance and involvement of citizens in responsible consumption and production actions between rural and urban municipalities.