Sustainable Behaviour and Practices

Sustainable development generally aims at protecting the environment and thus ensuring human beings’ means of existence as well as improving the quality of life. Each individual and each society can contribute to the achievement of these overarching goals by behaving and acting sustainably. Sustainable behaviour can basically be understood as the set of deliberate and effective actions that lead to the conservation of natural and social resources. It also refers to behaviour that translates values, norms, beliefs and a sense of responsibility in deliberate actions focused to providing well-being of all living beings, including present and future generations. At the same time, this pursues the goal of minimising negative impacts on the natural environment resulting from human actions. Specifically, sustainable behaviour and practices can be differentiated into pro-ecological, frugal, altruistic and equitable behaviours. The first two practices protect the physical environment, while the latter represent pro-social sustainable behaviour. Sustainable behaviour and actions thus aim to preserve the natural environment and protect the integrity of society, as well as contribute to promoting quality of life.