'Guide to Sustainia' Shows How to Achieve Sustainable Living in a Decade

The international sustainability initiative Sustainia has come up with a new book called the "Guide to Sustainia" that shows sustainable living can be achieved in 10 years. The guide is based on extensive research to show how readily available sustainable solutions, if implemented on a global scale, can result in a sustainable planet.

The guide assesses the potential impact of large-scale implementation of existing sustainable solutions can have on cities, homes, industries, and travel and energy consumption habits. It draws a scenario based on full potential realization of available sustainable technologies such as retrofitted homes, smart grid, solar farms, green roofing and solar-powered travel.

Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chair of Regions20, Honorary Chair of Sustainia, says: "Sustainia is my kind of world: A desirable place where we live life to the fullest. Without damaging the only planet we have."

Guide to Sustainia showcases sustainable technology, innovation and best practice in six key areas of the society: Energy, city planning, homes, transportation, fashion and health industry. The book offers scenarios for each of the areas, apart from how-to guides and principles for a low-carbon economy through sustainable living.

Novo Nordisk, one of the active partners of Sustainia, played a key role in providing input for the book's chapter on health. Lise Kingo, executive vice president and Chief of Staffs, Novo Nordisk, says: "Solutions aimed at improving public health and advancing sustainable development are rarely designed in the same room. This needs to change. With Guide to Sustainia's focus on health, we wish to create a shared vision for how people can live healthy lives on a healthy planet. The first step is to inspire integrated solutions that make both people and the planet more resilient."

Guide to Sustainia adds a new twist to the existing sustainability literature by taking a visionary look at a future society where human lifestyle has successfully been through a transformation through sustainable practices. Laura Storm, executive director, Sustainia and lead-author of Guide to Sustainia, says: "The dominating story for our future presents gloomy scenarios of 2, 4 or 6 degree societies. Fear, despair and resignation do not motivate people to change their practices. With Guide to Sustainia, we want to offer a new narrative that shows the exciting sustainable living we could achieve with exciting solutions."

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