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.
What are the benefits of adopting a 1.5-degree lifestyle?
Besides contributing to the environment, sustainable lifestyles can also foster our health and wellbeing. For example, following a vegan or vegetarian diet or using sustainable mobility means, such as walking or riding a bike, can improve our physical health and prevent serious illnesses, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer or autoimmune conditions. They can also contribute to our mental health, by improving our mood or exposing us to nature, which is known to contribute to wellbeing. Sustainable lifestyles can also contribute to social justice, in a variety of ways. For example, we know that worse air quality and other environmental contaminants are more present in communities with lower socio-economic conditions, and by reducing our contribution to these factors we also support better conditions for those who are worse off.
Unsustainable lifestyles, which rely on patterns of intensive production and consumption of goods, are also the result of pressures to “work and spend”, in the words of the economist Juliet Schor, which foster a sense of alienation, due to a lack of time to spend with family and friends, or to dedicate to activities that enrich us. Many people feel the need to change their lifestyles in ways that bring more balance and alignment with their values, and opt for living closer to nature, consume less, and reduce their impact on the environment. Those who decide to get serious about adopting a sustainable lifestyle do report a sense of balance and satisfaction, as well as improvements in their physical and mental health and wellbeing. We have studied this topic by interviewing people who make medium or high impact sustainable lifestyle choices in at least two lifestyle domains, which include those of housing, energy, mobility, nutrition and leisure, in five European countries (Germany, Spain, Latvia, Hungary and Sweden).
But is it all bright and shiny?
Through our research, we also identify a series of emotional challenges that people who are trying to live a sustainable lifestyle face, which are important, and can kill the motivation of those most exemplary among us. First, as people educate themselves more and more about the environmental impact of lifestyle choices as well as about trends of environmental degradation and scenarios of biodiversity loss and climate change consequences, a sense of eco-anxiety sets in. The magnitude of the problem, in conjunction with a perception of social and political inertia creates a sense of malaise. Moreover, full sustainability is often not possible to implement in one’s life choices, due to many structural constraints, which can create frustration. Secondly, adopting sustainable choices is not without internal struggle or conflict, as they are sometimes hard choices to adopt, that require considerable effort. Think about living in a place where good public transport or bicycle infrastructure is not available, and where one has to give up the convenience and comfort of easy (or even any) travel, which a car might provide. Or imagine one enjoys a particular restaurant, and the dishes they provide are not suitable for vegans. Even if the person might not miss the food, they might have to give up the whole experience of going to a restaurant she enjoys, often with family or friends, to be able to implement a choice more in line with her values and current preferences. These are hard choices to make, which create conflict among one’s environmental values and goals, and the need and pleasure to participate in the activities of one’s social group of reference. Finally, switching to sustainable lifestyle options might not always be a shared choice for our families and broader social circles. In a society where the mainstream or most common options are still quite unsustainable, a person that decides to become vegan, join a renewable energy cooperative, or give up flying might find themself alone on their sustainability journey, or even marginalized and not understood. This can be especially problematic at certain developmental stages, during adolescence or young adulthood, when being accepted by one´s social group is very important. But it is also a hurdle at any age, as being perceived as strange or sitting at dinner tables where others start sharing their views about how being vegan is extreme, can leave one feel alone.
So then, what can we do to continue on a sustainable lifestyle journey and not become miserable in the attempt?
Well, there are a few things. First, maintain a sense of the importance of the problem but try to engage in constructive forms of environmental activism, in order not to give in to despair. There is still a lot we can do to avoid the worst consequences of climate change and ecosystem degradation. Living a sustainable lifestyle and sharing our example with others can be inspiring for many. Volunteering our time and effort to sustainable causes and organizations can multiply our environmental and social impact. Secondly, think of transforming your lifestyle as an ongoing process, where each change builds on previous ones, and even if our options are not perfect or emissions-free, making them more sustainable can truly make a difference for the environment, our health and our communities. Behavior and lifestyle changes are challenging for human beings, so attempting to change everything at once is likely to fail, while taking it one step at a time, making sure to celebrate achievements, and accepting less-than-perfect options, makes success more achievable and transformation a more meaningful journey. Finally, joining organizations and finding other people who are engaged in the same struggle, who can become our tribe, share our difficulties, can offer us the support we need to persist on this journey, and inspire us with knowledge and tools to successfully resolve difficulties along the way.
The EU 1.5° Lifestyles Project also offers a platform where you can share your story and journey with others and become part of a like-minded community. We have launched a series of challenges, inspiring people to live a more sustainable lifestyle. The first one is the 'Car-free is possible' challenge, and you can find more information on this in our previous blog post: “Embracing a car-free lifestyle in Europe”. We encourage you to participate in this and future challenges we’re about to launch and join a community of people committed to a sustainable lifestyle.
If you are in Spain, please click here to this link for further information.
Adina Dumitru, Professor of Psychology, University of A Coruña, Spain.