A New Twist on Sustainability

New book showcases how sustainable living is achievable in 10 years.
Jan 23, 2013 7:30 AM ET

January 23, 2013 /3BL Media/ - How would your city and everyday life look in 10 years, if available sustainable solutions were implemented at large scale? This question is the starting point of international sustainability initiative Sustainia’s new book Guide to Sustainia; a publication depicting sustainable living achievable in 10 years. 

The authors behind Guide to Sustainia have researched a scenario, where readily available solutions – all existing today- are implemented at large scale across sectors and countries.  The result shows how our cities, homes, travel habits and industries would look if transformed by sustainable solutions such as; retrofitting of homes, solar farms, smart grid, green roofs and solar-powered jet travel. 

Guide to Sustainia presents sustainable technology, best practice and innovation in six key sectors of society; Energy, city planning, homes, transportation, fashion and health industry. For each sector, the book presents scenarios, how-to guides and principals for sustainable living fitted for a low-carbon economy.  

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

One of Sustainia's partners, Novo Nordisk, as been an active partner in Sustainia, providing input for the Guide's chapter on health.

“Solutions aimed at improving public health and advancing sustainable development are rarely designed in the same room. This needs to change," says Lise Kingo, executive vice president and Chief of Staffs, Novo Nordisk. "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.”

A Guidebook to the Future of Living
Adding a new twist to the world of sustainability literature, Guide to Sustainia is reporting from the future as if this society was already made real. Guide to Sustainia is a visionary publication depicting a society in near future, where our lifestyles have successfully undergone a transformation to sustainable practices.

With the publication, Sustainia wishes to demonstrate that sustainable living is an attractive option. Guide to Sustainia argues that high quality of living and prosperity are entirely possible in a sustainable society. Innovation has made impressive leaps over the last decade making it possible to break with the perception of a sustainable society as one of limitations.

“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;" says Laura Storm, executive director, Sustainia and lead-author of Guide to Sustainia. "With Guide to Sustainia, we want to offer a new narrative that shows the exciting sustainable living we could achieve with exciting solutions. But the book is not just a playful exercise, it is a part of an important vision to engage and motivate consumers, CEOs, decision makers to change practices.”

Visit the Guide to Sustainia website and explore the book, scenarios and technology:

http://www.sustainia.me/guidetosustainia/