The 10YFP Programme on Sustainable Lifestyles and Education

The 10YFP Programme on Sustainable Lifestyles and Education is a global initiative resulting from Rio+20, co-led by Japan, Sweden (via SEI), and WWF. It defines sustainable lifestyles as choices that "minimize environmental degradation" while supporting equitable development. The programme focuses on three main pillars: educating for sustainable lifestyles across formal and informal settings, developing and replicating low-carbon lifestyle scenarios, and promoting innovative and traditional models of sustainable living. Key objectives include building a common framework for understanding sustainable lifestyles, integrating these principles across society, and empowering individuals—particularly youth—through education and awareness. The programme is supported by a Multi-stakeholder Advisory Committee (MAC) and seeks to provide recommendations for policies, infrastructures, and business strategies that enable sustainable living, with a specific emphasis on urban spaces.

• The global ecological footprint currently exceeds the Earth's capacity by approximately 50%, and without change, the population growth projected to reach 9.6 billion by 2050 would require nearly three planets to sustain current living standards.
• Sustainable lifestyles are defined as social behaviors and choices that reduce environmental impacts—specifically CO2 emissions, waste, pollution, and natural resource use—while improving quality of life and socio-economic equity.
• The programme prioritizes the urban environment for the implementation of sustainable lifestyle solutions, noting that over half of the global population currently lives in cities, a figure expected to rise to two-thirds within 20 years.
• A core objective is the mainstreaming of Education for Sustainable Consumption and Lifestyles (ESCL) into formal curricula, as well as expanding it into non-formal, informal, and vocational training environments such as homes and workplaces.
• The programme emphasizes the value of traditional and indigenous practices, such as artisanal goods production and local food markets, as models for resource efficiency and low-impact living.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2014). The 10YFP Programme on Sustainable Lifestyles and Education. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/10YFP-SLE_Brochure-07.11_FINAL.pdf

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. The 10YFP Programme on Sustainable Lifestyles and Education. 2014. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/10YFP-SLE_Brochure-07.11_FINAL.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=The 10YFP Programme on Sustainable Lifestyles and Education |date=November 2014 |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/10YFP-SLE_Brochure-07.11_FINAL.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute201410yfp, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{The 10YFP Programme on Sustainable Lifestyles and Education}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2014}, month = nov, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/10YFP-SLE_Brochure-07.11_FINAL.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }