One planet living

Overview

We’re consuming resources and polluting the planet at a level the Earth cannot sustain. One planet living is our vision of a sustainable world, in which people everywhere can enjoy a high quality of life within the productive capacity of the planet.

Ecological footprinting shows that if everyone in the world consumed as many natural resources as the average person in the UK, we’d need three planets to support us. If everyone consumed as much as the average North American, we would need five planets.

The concept of one planet living uses ten principles of sustainability as a framework to help us enjoy a high quality of life within a fair share of the earth's resources.

The 10 principles

The ten principles of one planet living are a framework to help us enjoy a high quality of life within a fair share of the earth's resources:

Making buildings more energy efficient and delivering all energy with renewable technologies.

Reducing waste arisings, reusing where possible, and ultimately sending zero waste to landfill.

Encouraging low carbon modes of transport to reduce emissions, reducing the need to travel.

Using sustainable products that have a low embodied energy.

Choosing low impact, local, seasonal and organic diets and reducing food waste.

Using water more efficiently in buildings and in the products we buy; tackling local flooding and water course pollution.

Protecting and expanding old habitats and creating new space for wildlife.

Reviving local identity and wisdom; support for, and participation in, the arts.

Inclusive, empowering workplaces with equitable pay; support for local communities and fair trade.

Encouraging active, sociable, meaningful lives to promote good health and well being.

One Planet initiative

BioRegional's One Planet initiative consists of a range of practical projects and partnerships across the world that demonstrate how we can live within our fair share of the Earth’s resources.

The One Planet initiative covers a wide range of activity including:

• communities
• construction
• regions
• companies
• lifestyles

For more information visit the One Planet initiative page.