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This could be a question asked by a circular economy expert in any of the EU 1.5° Lifestyles project discussions about policies and tools for promoting and implementing low carbon lifestyles. And why not, because 1.5° lifestyles and a circular economy are mutually supportive approaches that share a common goal. While the question of the circularity of materials is easier to answer, food is a different type of resource. Discussions about the…

Karola and Henri, a couple living in Estonia, are taking a practical approach to sustainability. Their home, a 24-square-meter Tiny House, proves how small-scale living can minimise environmental impact while building a connection to nature, community, and personal values. This lifestyle shift is rooted in a deliberate departure from traditional consumerism. “The world can only change as much as we ourselves can change,” Henri reflects. By…

At Christmas, families gather, tables overflow with delicacies, and homes fill with decorations and gifts. While decorations, gifts, food, and travel create a festive atmosphere, they also come with an environmental cost. Fortunately, a more eco-friendly Christmas doesn't have to be a dull one. Thoughtful choices can create a meaningful celebration where the magic remains intact, and the planet benefits. In many cases, reducing your carbon…

What is a 1.5° holiday? Perhaps it could best be described as an eco- and socially-conscious, green and responsible holiday. It is when we try to create a festive atmosphere, prepare food and drink, and organise care and gift-giving, while being mindful of our environmental and social impact. At GreenDependent, we've been calling it a small footprint holiday for years.

Research universities like Leiden University aim to integrate research into teaching, which is believed to benefit the students’ learning experiences. Naturally, some researchers, like myself, are simultaneously teachers. Research can be integrated into teaching in various ways, and what is most appropriate will differ from course to course. My course “Sustainability Analysis in Python”, which is offered to students in the MSc Industrial Ecology…

The EU Horizon 1.5° Lifestyles project focuses on identifying the drivers and barriers to sustainable lifestyles, defined as options that allow average global temperatures to be kept below a 1.5-degree Celsius increase as compared to pre-industrial levels. This is a goal that was established in 2015, under the Paris Agreement, signed by 194 governments. 

The EU Horizon 1.5° Lifestyles project has launched a series of challenges to encourage citizens to adopt more sustainable habits, starting with mobility.    
The first challenge, "Car-free is possible", runs from October to November 2024 and invites citizens, especially from Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Spain and Sweden, to leave their cars unused as much as possible. This article explores the challenges and significant benefits of going car-free…

In early 2023, we at GreenDependent decided to launch a 1.5° blog. This is because we think it's important to show how we in the EU 1.5° Lifestyles project team try to live a small (carbon) footprint life. That it can be possible – even if it is not always easy and we cannot (yet!) do all things 1.5° at the same time. And that there are many different ways to do it. As we often say in Hungary: everyone does it differently. 

Much of the debate on sustainability and environmental crises has focused on consumption, especially individual consumption. Many citizens in Europe do have the ability and agency (and thus the responsibility) to make sustainable choices in their lives. Avoiding flying or reducing our intake of meat are activities over which adults do (mostly) have agency over, which can play an important role in reducing our emissions. However, focusing too much…

Dr Zita Gellér is Chief Strategic Coordinator at the Ministry of Energy (formerly Ministry of Agriculture) in Hungary and National Coordinator of the EEA/EIONET and UNEP 10YFP. She is also a member of the Advisory Board of the EU 1.5° Lifestyles project. In her workplace, she implements a number of green, community-based initiatives to help employees achieve 1.5° lifestyles. Below, Zita has shared her experience about the Ministry's employee…