Sustainable development is defined as meeting present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs. The document examines whether the lifestyle of Lisbon inhabitants reflects sustainable behavior and identifies areas for improvement. Specifically, it notes Lisbon residents could improve sustainable transportation options, waste separation, sustainable food choices, gender equality, and post-recession spending habits. Small changes in daily life, such as using reusable bags and public transit, could collectively make a big impact.

1. … is “development that meets
the needs of the present
without compromising the
ability of future generations to
meet their own needs”
(United Nations General
Assembly, 1987)
There are three main
concepts:
Truly sustainable behavior
integrates economy, society
and environment. Most of us
have understood the
importance of protecting
these for the future. Cognitive
understanding and actual
behavior however can differ. I
don’t think sustainable
development is properly
incorporated in the daily lives
of Lisboans.
Sustainable Development
SocietyEconomy
Environment
“Do you think that
the lifestyle of the
inhabitants of your
town or city
reflects behavior
that is in line with
the concepts of
sustainable
development?”
“In your opinion,
what should be
improved?”
LisbonFacts
Urban population: ~ 500k
Regional population: ~ 2.8M
Urban area: ~ 100 km²
Regional area: ~ 3000 km²
GDP per capita: 22.7k €
Unemployment rate: 18.5%

2. The table shows examples of behavior to be improved and suggestions for alternative behavior:
Lisboans love using cars, the use of public
transport decreased in the last years despite the
developed network and the lack of parking
space for cars.
They should take advantage of the good
weather and the new bicycle lanes or the public
transport. Using a bicycle yields further benefits (
exercise, gasoline savings).
Reduction and separation of waste are not
important matters for Lisboans. For grocery
shopping for example, lots of plastic bags are
purchased and used only once.
Following the rules for waste separation by the
municipality allows recycling. Bringing reusable
bags to the supermarket supports the
environment and the wallet.
What would Portugal be without its famous
„Bacalhau“? Unfortunately, codfish is an
endangered species.
Despite the tradition of eating codfish, Lisboans
should opt for not endangered species or fish
from aquacultures.
Lisboans love fashion, especially when it is
cheap. Many people buy clothes in stores with
socially questionable reputation.
Shopping socially responsible is not an easy
matter. Second-hand-stores or local boutiques
can surprise with cheap and unique pieces.
Gender equality is a concept that the Lisboans
have heard of but do not always consider
necessary. Wages and even entrance fees for
nightclubs can differ.
Everyone can contribute to gender equality by
respecting and treating men and women the
same. Especially employers should try to
eliminate any bias.
Following the economic recession, Lisboans felt
an impact on their lives and had to cut
expenses. The country is recovering and people
want the municipality to invest heavily and also
enjoy life by spending a lot.
Even though the prospects look promising,
Lisboans should spend carefully, enough to
support the economy for growth but avoiding
debts that they might struggle to pay back.

3. Besides the actions already suggested,
Lisboans could go a step further and
orientate themselves on the UN
Sustainable Development Goals. They
could, for example, donate money, donate
or distribute food, do volunteer work, tutor
kids in their free time, raise awareness for
gender issues (including LGBT issues),
support sustainable politics and so on. All
of this could be considered on
municipality level, regional level or global
level – helping to shape an integrated
world for the future.
Conclusion
We Lisboans apply the concepts of
sustainable development more than many
citizens in other parts of the world.
However, according to my personal
standards there is still a long way to go.
Small changes in the daily life could make
a big impact overall.
“Sustainable development requires human ingenuity. People are the
most important resource.” - Dan Shechtman