Are you sure you want to print? Save the planet. Opt not to print.
United Nations Environment Programme
UNEP
In Cities
What do Sustainable Lifestyles mean?
Sustainable Lifestyles are considered as ways of living, social behaviors and choices, that minimize environmental degradation (use of natural resources, CO2 emissions, waste and pollution) while supporting equitable socio-economic development and better quality of life for all.
Empowering people to live better and lighter.
Suscribe to our newsletter and join our community of sustainability enthusiasts!
By 2050, the world’s population may reach a whopping 10 billion and with more people comes more demand for – food, fashion, travel, housing and related aspirations. An increasing number of people are unable to meet basic needs while two to three billion new urban consumers and youth will receive the majority of their information from social media. In a world stretched thin for resources and under the threat of global biodiversity loss and climate change, our lifestyles decisions are putting the planet at risk. We need targeted action.
Sustainable livingmeans understanding how our lifestyle choices impact the world around us and finding ways for everyone to live better and lighter. Applying a ‘people lens’ to sustainability is new, timely and opportunities are great. Sustainable living and lifestyles for the first time appear in the Sustainable Development Goals (4 Education and 12.8 Responsible Consumption). UN Environment Programme is at the forefront of looking into what sustainable lifestyles are and how decision-making can be better harnessed for sustainability. How can governments and business better support and measure change?
In Cities
To combat the climate crisis and secure a safe future below 1.5°C, the world needs to cut emissions of planet-warming greenhouse gasses by50 per centwithin the decade. For many, ambitious…How sustainable living can help counter the climate crisis
Research: What are sustainable lifestyles?
- Enabling Sustainable Lifestyles in a Climate Emergency. This policy brief offers insights on what forces shape our lifestyles, from our values and norms to economic factors and government regulations, underpinned by the physical infrastructure within which we live, introducing the policy tool of choice-editing.
- 1.5-Degree Lifestyles: Towards a Fair Consumption Space for All. Analyses lifestyle carbon footprints of ten sample countries, representing high-, middle-, and low-income countries, and identifies hotspots, or consumption domains with the highest impact on the environment.
- Sustainable Living and Lifestyles: Covid-19 impacts.This desktop research reflects how COVID-19 is influencing people’s lives and lifestyles around the world, and in turn how “COVID lifestyles”affect and will affect the environment.
- Lifestyle Impact on Biodiversity and Nature.The research aims to understand, address and eventually influence the lifestyles areas that have the greatest impacts in Biodiversity Loss.
- A framework for shaping sustainable lifestyles: determinants and strategies. Evidence of what sustainable lifestyles are and the behavior tendencies of people to live more sustainability.
- 1.5-Degree Lifestyles: Targets and options for reducing lifestyle carbon footprints. Based on a literature review, the report establishes global targets for lifestyle carbon footprints, examining current consumption patterns, footprint impacts, and evaluates potential reduction of options.
- Society and Lifestyles in 2050: Insights from a Global Survey of Experts. Projects how disruptions in environment, health, politics and technology will affect lifestyles in 2050 to see what actions people can take now.
Tools and Resources
- Enabling Sustainable Lifestyles in a Climate Emergency.
- Fostering and Communicating Sustainable Lifestyles: Principles and Emerging Practices
- Sustainable Lifestyles: Options and Opportunities
- Sustainable Lifestyles: Options and Opportunities in the Workplace
- Sustainable Lifestyles University Network (SLUN)
Activating people for the SDGs
Contact us
UN Environment Programme
Economy Division
Resources and Markets Branch
1 Rue Miollis, Building VII
75015 Paris
France
Did you know? Plastic packaging accounts for 50 per cent of plastic waste.