A Sustainability Mindset helps us to understand complex systems better. Through awareness about everything that’s going wrong, we create the ability to step one step back and reflect on the situation. A Sustainability mindset helps us to effectively analyse complex challenges and generate appropriate solutions. Embracing Sustainability has never been easier by applying the 12 principles of a Sustainability mindset. We don’t always need cutting-edge technology. Sometimes real change comes from within us; to create the impact we want to see in our world. Sustainability is not difficult nor hard, it’s everything good we want to create. For us, for others, for the planet.

Are you looking forward to 2023? I hope so. Now more than ever, we need encouraged and motivated people to make a difference. To contribute to our planet – the paradise which sustains our lives. Although there are many ways to be sustainable, we overlook one: how you can make a meaningful impact. I do not mean recycling or going zero waste. What I mean is who you are as a person. How do you fit in with your uniqueness and strengths? Sustainability has all opportunities open for you. What matters is if you are willing to discover them.

Environmental, social and economic sustainability challenges are more diverse than we are aware of. We can not simply focus on one challenge (climate crisis). Instead, we need to address all the various challenges of the 21st century if humanity wants to experience the 22nd century. Our future depends on the actions we take today. Long-term sustainability goals will help us to create a livable future. Nonetheless, it is not wrong to be aware of what the hurdles actually are. Therefore, I collected the 10 most pressing challenges of the 21st century to give an overview of where urgent action is needed.

Living in urban areas is a challenge for sustainable transitions. Most cities were not built to be in balance with the natural environment. Hence, sustainable urban living is no longer a necessity – it is a must. It is not easy for citizens to live environmentally friendly and socially responsible because unsustainability is the norm in urban areas. Inefficient transport systems, massive amounts of waste, irresponsible use of energy and poor land and building management are only a few obstacles that put a heavy burden on the environment and societies. Is sustainable urban living the answer for us individuals to make a difference?

Over half of the world’s human population lives in cities. It’s expected that by 2050 68% of people will live in urban areas. Urban spaces matter tremendously in the light of sustainable development. There are many challenges to make cities more sustainable, but in this article I want to focus on the opportunities. I discovered that designing urban spaces to be more sustainable can be a very fun experience. Repurposing spaces fuelled my imagination. Therefore, instead of only one example you will get two which show how easy it is to make an underutilised space more livable and enjoyable.

2023 needs you. Particularly, it needs your actions to create meaningful impacts. Sustainability New Year’s resolutions serve as a focal point to make a difference. To feel empowered and imagine all the opportunities you can seize in the New Year. Sustainable principles have a bad image, but you know better. The unusual New year’s resolutions, shall help you to build a meaningful foundation to make 2023 your year. No self-improvement is needed. Sometimes all it takes to make our world a better place is to be human – compassionate and full of energy to create a future worth looking forward to.

We know all about speed limits, alcohol limits, calorie limits, age limits and so on. Those are limits we have to take individual action on because we are responsible for ourselves. The planetary limits, known as the planetary boundaries, is a collective responsibility of all of us. The planetary boundaries define the environmental limits within which humans can safely exist, develop and thrive. Pushing the Earth’s systems is putting our livelihoods at risk. Therefore, our responsibility is to know our Earth’s limits and operate in ways which lead to prosperity.

The WHO’S GONNA SAVE US podcast is about the heroes who will enable the world to avert the worst impacts of a climate disaster: people like you and me. Questions about “Why do we have to do it?” are changed to “How are we going to do it?” This podcast provides you with inspirational stories from people who simply want a better future. A future where we are not threatened by the climate crisis. How they are doing it is wonderfully discovered by the host Jo Lauder and her team.

In our fast-moving world, it is easy to jump from news to news. Unfortunately, it means that we often neglect important information. In that context, I feel like the news about the Patagonia founder was swept under the rug too quickly. Do you remember what happened? Don’t worry if you don’t because I want to bring up this old news again. Non-billionaire Yvon Chouinard decided to give away his company, Patagonia, to tackle the climate crisis. It is a significant decision because perhaps we are dealing with a pioneering act that might shake up the business world. If we don’t let it fall into oblivion.

Sustainability is minimised to dealing responsibly with our resources for our and our future generations (plants, animals and resources included). It is more than simply ticking the boxes. It’s about finding the right balance between social, environmental and economic Sustainability. The latter is not even crucial for our existence, but we give most of our attention to economic development. More importantly, we need to switch the focus on ecological and human health and vitality. Profit can only exist with people and the planet. So let’s change our understanding of Sustainability to create a world that suits us all and not an economic model.