Human behavior and sustainability
Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research
Standard
In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, Vol. 10, No. 3, 04.2012, p. 153-160.
Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research
Harvard
APA
Vancouver
Bibtex
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
T1 - Human behavior and sustainability
AU - Fischer, Joern
AU - Dyball, R.
AU - Fazey, Ioan
AU - Gross, C.
AU - Dovers, Stephen
AU - Ehrlich, P. R.
AU - Brulle, R
AU - Christensen, C.
AU - Borden, R
PY - 2012/4
Y1 - 2012/4
N2 - Sustainability demands changes in human behavior. To this end, priority areas include reforming formal institutions, strengthening the institutions of civil society, improving citizen engagement, curbing consumption and population growth, addressing social justice issues, and reflecting on value and belief systems. We review existing knowledge across these areas and conclude that the global sustainability deficit is not primarily the result of a lack of academic knowledge. Rather, unsustainable behaviors result from a vicious cycle, where traditional market and state institutions reinforce disincentives for more sustainable behaviors while, at the same time, the institutions of civil society lack momentum to effectively promote fundamental reforms of those institutions. Achieving more sustainable behaviors requires this cycle to be broken. We call on readers to contribute to social change through involvement in initiatives like the Ecological Society of America's Earth Stewardship Initiative or the nascent Millennium Alliance for Humanity & the Biosphere. © The Ecological Society of America.
AB - Sustainability demands changes in human behavior. To this end, priority areas include reforming formal institutions, strengthening the institutions of civil society, improving citizen engagement, curbing consumption and population growth, addressing social justice issues, and reflecting on value and belief systems. We review existing knowledge across these areas and conclude that the global sustainability deficit is not primarily the result of a lack of academic knowledge. Rather, unsustainable behaviors result from a vicious cycle, where traditional market and state institutions reinforce disincentives for more sustainable behaviors while, at the same time, the institutions of civil society lack momentum to effectively promote fundamental reforms of those institutions. Achieving more sustainable behaviors requires this cycle to be broken. We call on readers to contribute to social change through involvement in initiatives like the Ecological Society of America's Earth Stewardship Initiative or the nascent Millennium Alliance for Humanity & the Biosphere. © The Ecological Society of America.
KW - Sustainability Science
KW - civil society
KW - environmental justice
KW - environmental legislation
KW - human behavior
KW - population growth
KW - Social Change
KW - sustainability
KW - traditional knowledge
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84859357593&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1890/110079
DO - 10.1890/110079
M3 - Scientific review articles
VL - 10
SP - 153
EP - 160
JO - Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment
JF - Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment
SN - 1540-9295
IS - 3
ER -