Guide to Sustainia Reshapes the Narrative on Sustainability

(Copenhagen, 23 January 2013) – For too long, sustainability has been associated with gloom, doomsday, hopelessness and limitations. A new book, Guide to Sustainia, aims to reshape the narrative on sustainability by offering an insightful and attractive vision for how the world could look in 10 years.

Behind the book are international sustainability alliance Sustainia and its partners who have researched a scenario where readily available solutions are implemented at large scale across sectors and countries. The result portrays how our cities, homes, travel habits and industries would look if transformed by sustainable solutions, such as retrofitting of homes, solar farms, smart grids, green roofs and solar-powered jet travel.

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

The companies and foundations behind Sustainia have come together in an effort to revitalize the sustainability agenda. Over the last decade, technological innovation has made it possible to break with the perception of a sustainable society as one of limitations. With Guide to Sustainia, sustainable living is characterized by innovation, high quality of living and attractive opportunities. The book presents sustainable technology, best practices and innovation across six key sectors of society: energy, city planning, homes, transportation, the fashion industry and health care.

“Sustainia holds all the ingredients of being a catalytic force to accelerate, inspire and bring to scale the many efforts that are already taking place on the path toward sustainability,” said Georg Kell, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact, which is a partner of Sustainia.

As a counterpart to scientific and research-heavy publications, Guide to Sustainia reports from the future as if society and our lifestyles have already successfully undergone a transformation to sustainable practices.

Laura Storm, Executive Director of Sustainia: “Sustainia set out to find answers to the questions; what lives could we lead if we rebuild our societies with existing sustainable solutions? How would our homes, our transportation systems, our cities look like? Guide to Sustainia reports from a near-future, where we have taken readily available solutions and shown their full potential. The result is a sneak peek into a thrilling and fun lifestyle.”

Visit the interactive website and download Guide to Sustainia at http://www.sustainia.me/guidetosustainia.

About Sustainia
Sustainia is a global alliance of international organizations and companies working to create sustainable growth. Based on tangible know-how and technologies, Sustainia demonstrates the sustainable future we could achieve if existing solutions were implemented at large scale. The work is carried out in various publications, events and the annual work to identify and promote a list of 100 sustainable solutions, Sustainia100. Sustainia is founded by Scandinavian think tank Monday Morning and developed in close collaboration with UN Global Compact, Nobel Sustainability Trust, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s initiative Regions20, IFHP and world-leading companies: Microsoft, GE, DNV, Philips Lighting, DONG Energy, Novo Nordisk, Tetra Pak, Cisco, Knoll, IKEA, Vestas, VELUX, Realdania, Scandinavian Airlines SAS, Ramboll and UBS Investment Bank. www.sustainia.me

Media Contacts

Marie Louise Gorvild
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Sustainia
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Kristen Coco
Public Affairs and Media Relations
UN Global Compact
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