Sustainable living
Sustainable living refers to lifestyle choices that prioritize social and environmental sustainability, affecting regions, nations, and the global community. It encompasses decisions related to consumption in areas like housing, transportation, food, and clothing, aiming to utilize resources efficiently and promote equity across generations. The concept has historical roots, with early examples found in personal narratives like Henry David Thoreau's "Walden." Since the mid-20th century, a growing body of scientific research has underscored the importance of sustainable practices, fueled by the work of economists like Ernst Schumacher, who advocated for reduced economic activity to meet social and environmental goals.
Sustainable living encourages individuals to consider the impact of their choices, such as opting for energy-efficient homes, using public transport, and supporting local and fair trade products. These behaviors not only contribute to environmental preservation but also foster social justice and equity within communities. As a result, promoting sustainable lifestyles has become a critical focus for policymakers, who recognize that individual choices can lead to broader societal changes. Additionally, sociological research is increasingly exploring how cultural and social factors influence people's motivations to adopt sustainable practices.
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Sustainable living
Sustainable living describes individual lifestyle options based on criteria of social or environmental sustainability at a regional, national, or global level. This concept applies to choices regarding the consumption of goods and services such as housing, transport, food, or clothing. The adoption of sustainable lifestyles may contribute to more efficient use of resources at the aggregate level, with potential positive effects on intra- and intergenerational equity. An understanding of the individual and social determinants of sustainable behaviors and the promotion of these behaviors are important topics in contemporary policy and research.
Overview
The first arguments for sustainable lifestyles appear in personal accounts of individuals living such lifestyles, as in Henry David Thoreau’s Walden; or, Life in the Woods (1854). Since the mid-twentieth century, scientific claims for sustainability have multiplied. A major landmark was the study of British economist Ernst Schumacher, who argued that social and environmental objectives can only be met if the scale of economic activity is reduced. In many countries, there is evidence of social trends toward more sustainable lifestyles. A large body of literature is also available, both studying the determinants and effects of these lifestyles and advising people on how to adapt their behaviors and lead sustainable lives.
The term “sustainable living” is usually applied to describe options taken by individuals that are based on sustainability criteria affecting certain geographical areas or societies, from countries to regions to the whole planet. Sustainability presupposes that the same amount of a resource is left to satisfy needs arising in the present or the future in those areas or societies.
Individuals use different criteria to assess sustainability. Some motivations are environmental and translate into efforts to preserve natural resources and ecosystems. Others are social and based on values such as equality and fairness.
These criteria apply in many spheres of life. Households may choose houses that reduce the use of energy (“green buildings”), opt for less pollutant vehicles, or substitute car use for mass transit or nonmotorized modes such as walking and cycling. Choices regarding food and clothing are also influenced by sustainability, when priority is given to goods that are produced locally or that respect certain standards regarding worker conditions and benefits to the local community (“fair trade products”).
The concept of sustainable living is important for economic policy as individual consumer behaviors lead to aggregate patterns that increase economic efficiency, because people try to satisfy their needs with goods and services that reduce waste and the use of nonrenewable natural resources. Social motivations in consumption also contribute to distributive justice and promote social equity. For these reasons, the promotion of sustainable behaviors has become a major priority in public policies.
The understanding of people’s motivations for living sustainably is also a growing field in sociology. Topics of special interest are the role of society and culture on lifestyle options and people’s perceptions and levels of concern about the welfare of individuals living in distant geographical areas or in the future.
Bibliography
Gibson, Chris, Carol Farbotko, Nicholas Gill, Lesley Head, and Gordon Waitt. Household Sustainability: Challenges and Dilemmas in Everyday Life. Northampton: Elgar, 2013. Print.
Jurin, Richard R. Principles of Sustainable Living: A New Vision for Health, Happiness, and Prosperity. Champaign: Human Kinetics, 2012. Print.
Lewis, Tania, and Emily Potter, eds. Ethical Consumption: A Critical Introduction. New York: Routledge, 2010. Print.
Roseland, Mark. Toward Sustainable Communities: Solutions for Citizens and Their Governments. 4th ed. Gabriola Island: New Soc., 2012. Print.
Schumacher, Ernst F. Small Is Beautiful: A Study of Economics as if People Mattered. London: Blond, 1973. Print.
Steg, L., Agnes E. van den Berg, and Judith I M de Groot. Environmental Psychology: An Introduction. Chichester: Wiley, 2013. Print.
Thoreau, Henry D. Walden; or, Life in the Woods. Boston: Ticknor, 1854. Print.
Tumlin, Jeffrey. Sustainable Transportation Planning: Tools for Creating Vibrant, Healthy, and Resilient Communities. Hoboken: Wiley, 2012. Print.