THIS IS OUR
ANATOMY OF ACTION
A HANDY ACTION SET FOR EVERYDAY SUSTAINABLE LIVING
The future is made UP of the cumulative outcomes of our actions today
We are all citizen designers, with the power to effect positive change through our everyday actions, no matter who we are, or where we live
The Anatomy of Action outlines the top level changes any individual can make to support the growing shift to global sustainability.
There are thousands of possibilities, and we combed through them all. The data showed that if enough people make changes in a few key areas, the global momentum of our collective action will address the pressing social and environmental issues around us. By making individual changes to what we eat, what we buy, how we invest our money, how we move and what we aspire to, we will change what and how our world works.
WATCH THE ACTIONS VIDEO NOW!
PROTEIN SWAPS
Reduce or eliminate meat and animal product consumption habits and adopt a more plant-based diet
USE ALL YOUR FOOD
Get organic waste out of trash heaps and landfills to reduce methane, improve soil fertility, and increase equitable access to fresh food
GROW YOUR OWN
Grow your own food and connect to where it comes from in order to save money and to reduce transport, packaging, and food waste
BEYOND BUYING
Consider what you need and buy products that will last longer, be used multiple times, and are intended to be in use for as long as possible before being remanufactured or recycled
FASHION SLOW DOWN
Buy better clothes, stay away from fast fashion that mass produces at the cost of environmental and human justice.
DITCH DISPOSABLES
Refuse everyday products which cannot be reused
KEEP ACTIVE
Keep or take up walking and cycling to work and advocate for your government and local businesses to provide more sustainable and safer public transport options
SHARE YOUR RIDE
Continue or opt for public and shared transport instead of driving, and advocate for more options
GO CLEANER
Swap to options like electric vehicles, cleaner fuels, and shorter distances to reduce your transport footprint
ETHICAL INVESTING
Use your principles to guide investing and consider socially and environmentally responsible options
DIVESTMENT
Actively swap your financial institutions or services to more sustainable option
ENERGY POSITIVE HOMES
Enhance your comfort, save energy and money by adapting your home and your habits to be more efficient
ENJOY THE JOURNEY
Staying local can reduce your carbon footprint, help local economies, and can be more cost effective. When you do go the distance, stay longer and choose better products
STAY CURIOUS
Embrace a life of constant learning, adventure, and curiosity, and keep an open minD
CHOOSE EXPERIENCES
Consider spending more time and resources on the experiences that add value to your life
WHAT’S THIS INITIATIVE ALL ABOUT?
HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED IF THE THINGS YOU DO EVERYDAY CAN ACTUALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE? US TOO!
SO WE DID THE RESEARCH, LOOKED AT THE LATEST DATA AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE 5 KEY LIFESTYLE AREAS OF IMPACT THAT ANYONE ANYWHERE CAN TAKE TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT.
The Anatomy of Action was born out of a partnership project between the United Nations Environment Program and The UnSchool of Disruptive Design to define and communicate the most positively impactful actions anyone of us can take to add to the global movement around sustainable lifestyles to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
This project conducted an extensive review of the scientific data on what actions, when taken individually and accumulated across the globe, can and will have positive impacts on the health and sustainability of our planet. The collected data was synthesized into a list of 15 everyday actions across 5 lifestyle themes to share what does, and does not*, make a difference in the world, and how we can best focus our collective and diverse energies on making change happen through the lives we lead.
*We of course know that this is not the entire list of sustainable living actions available to make a positive impact on the planet. There are gaps in our lists, however these specific actions are selected based on peer-reviewed evidence for their potential to have significant positive impact if a mass amount of people adopt them. Download the action list data validation deck here to find out more of the science behind the Anatomy of Action.
WE NEED ALL HANDS ON DECK TO ACHIEVE THE SDGs, SO START ACTIVATING YOUR HANDS TODAY!