SCORAI Global is composed of a wonderful network of researchers and practitioners from a wide range of academic expertise and in a wide range of countries and cultures. We hope to present some of this knowledge through individual conversations in response to a common set of interview questions:
- Why are you concerned about sustainable consumption/lifestyles
- Who do you think are the most effective directions and agents of change towards more sustainable lifestyles
- What is preventing them from bringing about the necessary change
- Can you envisage a regime and the institutional and physical infrastructures which would promote sustainable lifestyles
- Is there a country or city which has such a regime and infrastructures
- Does any culture/religion/community around the world offer concepts which could promote mainstream global adoption of decent and sustainable lifestyles
- Will change come from internal or external changes/events/circumstances?
- The Corona pandemic had potential, but ultimately did not change lifestyles. What changed when a country underwent significant regime change, such as the transfer of power to China in Hong Kong, the institutional structural changes in Japan following WW2, the changes in ex Soviet Union countries.
- What issues would you like to raise for discussion in the SCORAI network
The interviewer is Valerie Brachya, a member of the Executive Board of SCORAI Global. We would welcome your comments to the listserv, or you may like to send a mail to Valerie at Valerie@jerusaleminstitute.org.il.
Conversation with Halina Brown, United States
Conversation with Kavita Hamza, Brazil
Conversation with Pablo Evia Salas, Costa Rica
Conversation with ChatGPT, February 2025
Achieving a high quality of life for all citizens while staying within planetary boundaries—a concept introduced by the Stockholm Resilience Centre to define the safe operating space for humanity—remains a significant global challenge.
Studies have shown that no country currently meets this dual objective. Wealthier nations, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany, often satisfy the basic needs of their populations but do so at resource consumption levels far beyond what is globally sustainable. Conversely, countries like Sri Lanka, which use resources at more sustainable levels, may struggle to meet the basic needs of their citizens.
The “Doughnut” economic model, developed by economist Kate Raworth, illustrates this challenge. It emphasizes the need to meet essential human needs without exceeding environmental limits. Empirical applications of this model have shown that, across 150 countries, none fully satisfy citizens’ basic needs while maintaining a globally sustainable level of resource use.
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