Sustainable Ways of Living Issue Brief Series

The topics of ‘sustainable everyday living’ and ‘livelihoods’ are often considered as being separate or independent, with the former seen as the problem of industrialised societies and the latter as a key concern for ‘underdeveloped’ societies. However, it is essential to note that many people in prosperous societies are forced to live precarious lives. Moreover, the vulnerability of certain groups of people jeopardises sustainability both at the local and national scale, just as people with insufficient access to basic needs such as energy often create more negative impacts on the environment in order to survive. In addition, sustainable lifestyles and livelihoods are often interlinked, with highly consumptive lifestyles being supported by those whose livelihoods are tied to producing the goods and services therefore, or vulnerable populations recycling materials and living off the waste of wasteful consumption practices of unsustainable lifestyles. Our lives are shaped by an entanglement of elements, such as natural resources and infrastructure that support us, available products and services, and the norms and rules shared in our communities and other social groups. “How can we change our ways of living to mitigate negative ecological and social impacts while enabling all of us to lead flourishing lives based on reliable means of living within the Earth’s planetary boundaries?”. Sustainable lifestyles are a key part of SDG 12: sustainable consumption and production, more specifically in the target 12.8 that says “By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature”.