Low-carbon lifestyles provide demand-side solutions to meet global climate targets, yet the global carbon-saving potential of consumer-led abatement actions remains insufficiently researched. Here, we quantify the greenhouse gas emissions reduction potential of 21 low-carbon expenditures using a global multi-regional input-output model linked with detailed household expenditure data. Targeting households exceeding the global per-capita average required to stay below 2 degrees, our model captures changes in direct energy use, household consumption and upstream intermediate industrial inputs. We find that implementing a combination of low-carbon expenditures among the top 23.7% emitters reduces global carbon footprints by 10.4 gigatons CO₂e (i.e., 40.1% of the household consumption-based emissions of the 116 countries analysed in this study or 31.7% of the global total in 2017). Consumption pattern changes related to mobility and services contribute 11.8% and 10.2% of emission reductions. North America shows substantial reduction potential, while some Sub-Saharan African countries present unexpected mitigation possibilities. However, a rebound effect from re-spending income savings from lifestyle changes offsets the expected carbon savings by 6.5% to 45.8% (0.7–4.8 gigatons CO₂e).

低碳生活方式为实现全球气候目标提供了需求侧解决方案，但消费者主导的减排行动的全球碳减排潜力仍未得到充分研究。在这里，我们使用与详细家庭支出数据相关联的全球多区域投入产出模型来量化 21 项低碳支出的温室气体减排潜力。我们的模型以超过全球人均气温保持在 2 摄氏度以下所需的家庭为目标，捕捉了直接能源使用、家庭消费和上游中间工业投入的变化。我们发现，在前 23.7% 的排放国中实施低碳支出的组合，可将全球碳足迹减少 10.4 吉吨_{二氧化碳当量}（即本研究分析的 116 个国家/地区基于家庭消费的排放量的 40.1%，或 2017 年全球总排放量的 31.7%）。与出行和服务相关的消费模式变化分别贡献了 11.8% 和 10.2% 的减排量。北美显示出巨大的减排潜力，而一些撒哈拉以南非洲国家则呈现出意想不到的缓解可能性。然而，通过改变生活方式节省下来的收入再支出产生的反弹效应抵消了 6.5% 至 45.8% 的预期碳节省（0.7-4.8 吉吨 CO₂e）。