Over the past half-century, environmental problems have become increasingly serious and seemingly intractable, and a careless, clueless, or contemptuous consumer is often portrayed as the root cause of this environmental decline. This study takes a different approach to evaluating the demand for resources by households, assessing possible pro-environmental paths forward through a study of highly ecologically-conscious households. By modeling "green" households as producers of sustainability rather than consumers of environmental products, the sustainability work that takes place in households is brought into focus. An investigation of household sustainability production makes possible the evaluation of the trade-offs inherent in these pro-environmental activities. Ethnographic interviews with 23 sustainability-oriented households with young children living in and near Portland, Oregon, provide data on how households balance priorities and get things done in day-to-day life by employing the available resources, limited by constraining factors. An orienting perspective combining neoclassical and radical political economic theories of household production frames the analysis of how households make choices between alternatives. Sociological theories of consumption and theories of social practice aid in the analysis of how these choices have evolved over time, and how household members view the social meanings of these choices. Particular attention is paid to areas of day-to-day life neglected in previous research--household waste, comfort, and cleanliness. The results indicate that there is not one "sustainability" with varying degrees across a "green" spectrum, but rather varying priorities in the sustainability realm--personal health, nature, waste avoidance, technology, and community. This analysis reveals some of the negative consequences of shifting the responsibility for environmental protection to households. Ecologically-conscious households devote substantial time and money to these sustainability efforts, but their efforts frequently stimulate conflicts, and the end results are rarely perfect. Constrained resources and limited information mean household members must make trade-offs between competing priorities, often under duress. The results suggest that policies promoting household-level sustainability efforts may be misguided, as this transfer of institutional responsibility for environmental protection to individuals and groups results in even greater burdens on households, whose time and money are already stretched to their limits.

Since South Africa’s democratic transition poverty, especially in terms of income, has persisted. Poverty reduction strategies must focus on closing the gaps of current policies which miss the poorest. Specifically, attention must be paid to those living in rural areas. While the use of agriculture as a poverty reduction strategy was envisioned by government as one of the key components of land reform and rural advancement, its potential has been limited as South Africa agriculture in the post-apartheid era is challenged with providing opportunities and support for small-scale farming systems. It was thus the aim of this dissertation to address part of this crisis by engaging with smallscale farmers in an attempt to understand the barriers and opportunities that they confront when accessing inputs needed for agricultural production that contributes towards their livelihoods. This was explored through a case study in which two focus groups and ten qualitative interviews were conducted. Through this it was found that land is being used productively by resource poor farmers as a pathway from poverty. The inability to purchase fencing and the lack of easy access to water proved to be the two most significant barriers to crop production while accessibility to seeds was found not to be an issue when controlling for financial limitations. Opportunities arose as respondents relied on interdependent relationships between the different assets in their possession. Overall, it was concluded that with a more appropriate support system which focused on overcoming the lack of information and resources, as well as the lack of services and infrastructure productivity could improve giving small farmers the potential to make a larger contribution to reducing poverty. / Thesis (M.Dev.Studies)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

This work examines the notion of food security, how people see and define food security, how institutions and organizational efforts seek to assist people in food security ventures, and whether such ventures can be turned into sustainable livelihoods. The study was predominantly qualitative using a Sustainable Livelihoods Framework to determine people’s capabilities and capacities to generate food through food gardens, and the role played by food gardens in providing sustainable livelihoods. Thirty-seven unstructured interviews and two focus group discussions were conducted with food garden practitioners, community leaders and development facilitators. The study was done in a rural area of Vulindlela and the peri-urban setting of Imbali Township, both situated in Pietermaritzburg. It was established that irrespective of food availability, and even if nutritious and safe food supplies were adequate and markets were functioning well, food security can still occur, and people can still go hungry if they cannot afford to buy food. The level of education of food garden practitioners was very low, and social grants were the primary source of household income. The respondents defined food security not only in terms of food access and availability, but from the broad perspective of general improvement in their well-being. This includes other factors such as poor health, illiteracy and the lack of access to social services and a state of vulnerability and powerlessness. Access to assets and resources remains a big challenge facing food garden practitioners in the Msunduzi Municipality. Government departments, the business sector and the civil society need to come together to work as a unit in order to speed up service delivery and resource redistribution to the poor in a manner that is effective, efficient and sustainable. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

Economic development brings about urbanisation which may result in rapid housing expansion. The health and well-being of communities is often not considered as a priority of urbanisation with the pressure for developing better economies. Sustainability principles in housing developments are perceived to be able to enhance and to improve the quality of living. The approach to sustainability can, however, be interpreted and prioritised differently. Many developing countries such as Malaysia are depending upon industrialisation for the development of their economies. Continuing urbanisation and industrialisation in these countries indirectly creates tensions between the need for a better built environment, and the push for economic growth. One specific phenomena in Malaysia is the introduction of the mixed-use urban neighbourhood, whereby residential development is netsled within the industrial establishments. On one hand, this helps to create job opportunities and improve the local economy. On the other, it creates concerns in the relations to the house planning, and to the well-being of the residents. These have potential exposures to industrial activities that are associated with environmental problems, such as, poor air quality, local temperature increases, and excessive noise levels. This research applied the current international trends of sustainability practices in housing development in searching for the most appropriate strategies for developing sustainable residential-industrial neighborhoods. Cross reference to other countries strategies and experiences can be adaptation for Malaysian conditions. A residential-industrial community in the city of Pasir Gudang Johor, Malaysia, has been selected as a case study in order to examine the perceived problems of indoor environmental quality in such environments. The result of a questionnaire survey and in-situ measurement indicates that they are facing indoor environmental problems. A set of recommendations for housing guidelines which are tailored for local Malaysians conditions have been identified, and have potential for improving the housing development guidelines and policies for mixed-use community living. Comprehensive strategies will need to be developed to achieve housing development sustainability goals. The development of Master Planned Communities (MPC's) is suggested to be appropriate mechanism to developing planning controls. This will ensure the improvement of indoor environmental quality of living in residential-industrial housing developments in Malaysia. It is anticipated that this research will make a positive contribution to developing decision-making procedures that are appropriate to achieving the goals of sustainable housing development in relation to mixed-used residential housing, It is also expected that this research will assist in establishment of a unified national sustainable housing strategy, and in the rationalised adoption of a master planned community approach.

This qualitative study explores daily environmental sustainable attitudes and behaviours of Gauteng’s urban youth. A social constructivist paradigm underlines the views, challenges and activities expressed. The Reasonable Person Model (RPM) and Social Networking Theory ensure that the content, as well as methodological elements and results herein adhere to a psychological framework. Focus groups and online interviews were utilised to explore the link between community well-being and the state of the natural environment and the sample was drawn using purposive and snowball sampling. The literature reviewed focuses on existing climate change concerns, pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours, and emerging local and international practices, including the importance of expanding local practices. A thematic analysis, ensured for a broad variety of responses, and hence detailed discussion -of and dissemination of results. Using common threads in the results, recommendations and suggestions were made, to improve future studies and research practices concerning Environmental Responsible Behaviours (ERBs).

M.Tech. (Architectural Technology) / This dissertation explores my own neighbourhood – Roodepoort. It critically examines consumerist lifestyles which currently dominate the area and proposes an architectural intervention which will showcase new modes of living. The proposed building accommodates a cultivation school and a ‘hackerspace’ where residents of Roodepoort can learn to live more sustainable. The cultivation school recalls Roodepoort’s history as a farming area and celebrates the area’s spirit of place. The hackerspace provides a place for suburban inventors to work and collaborate.

Människors boyta har en betydande miljöpåverkan. Valet av bostad är därför viktigt ur ett miljöperspektiv. Syftet var att undersöka unga mäns inställning till bostadsytan och vilka motiverande faktorer det finns för dessa att minska sin bostadsyta. Frågeställningarna utifrån syftet löd: Hur är inställningen hos yngre män till att leva på en mindre boyta? Är miljöpåverkan en motiverande faktor till att minska sin bostadsyta? För studien användes en kvalitativ metod där sex semistrukturerade intervjuer med unga män genomfördes. Resultatet ställdes mot teorin kognitiv dissonans, samt definitionen av hållbar bostadsyta, för en analys. Befintlig forskning integrerades även i analysen. Resultatet visade att önskan om större bostadsytan gick före miljöhänsyn, men inte nödvändigtvis om bostaden var bra planerad. De motiverande faktorerna till en mindre boyta var främst andra än miljöskäl, nämligen ekonomiska eller underhållsrelaterade. Det var endast en av informanterna som önskade ett boende av miljöhänsyn. / People's living space has a significant environmental impact. The choice of housing is therefore important from an environmental perspective. The purpose of the study was to find out young men's attitudes towards the living space, as well as what motivating factors there could be for reducing their living space. The questions based on the purpose were thus: What is the attitude to the living space of younger men? Do environmental factors motivate young men to reduce their living space? What other motivating factors for a life in a smaller space could be identified? A qualitative method was used, where six semi-structured interviews with young men were conducted. The result was set in the light of the theory of cognitive dissonance, as well as the definition of sustainable living space, for an analysis. Previous research was also integrated into the analysis. The result of the study showed the demand for larger living space went before environmental factors, but not necessarily if the home was well planned. The motivating factors for a smaller living space were mainly other than for the sake of the environment, namely economic reasons or lower maintenance. Only one of the informants showed interest in a smaller living space to reduce his environmental impact.

Basierend auf der Grundlage der Theorie der Kosmopolitisierung als Forschungsrahmen von Ulrich Beck untersucht diese Doktorarbeit, wie das globale Risiko die Weltanschauung und die Alltagspraktiken verändert hat, um ein nachhaltiges Leben in Peking und Taipeh zu sichern. Zur Analyse der von Umweltschützern und ihren grünen Gruppen in diesen beiden großchinesischen Gemeinden propagierten Praktiken eines nachhaltigen Lebensstils, schlage ich den Begriff der ökologischen Konvivialität vor, der sich auf ein friedliches Leben und symbiotische Beziehungen zwischen Mensch und Natur als Mittel zur Bekämpfung des unbegrenzten Wachstums der industriellen Produktivität und des Massenkonsums bezieht. Die Studie knüpft an die jüngste Diskussion über die reale Existenz des Lebens-mit-Unterschied an, indem sie die Konvivialität im Rahmen nachhaltiger Lebensbeziehungen weiter verortet. Die Forschungsergebnisse betonen die ökologische Konvivialität des nachhaltigen Lebens als Alternative zu den dominierenden, aber konfliktreichen Diskursen, indem sie das nachhaltige Leben als ein Instrument der neoliberalen Gouvernementalität oder als Aktion der Lebensstilbewegung betrachten. Der zweite Teil der Dissertation zeigt nicht nur, wie sich die Teilnehmer der Umweltbewegung von der Antizipation globaler Katastrophen in ökologische Konvivialität verwandelt haben, sondern erläutert auch drei Formen konvivialer Prekarität, die in den friedlichen Beziehungen zwischen Mensch und Natur verankert sind. Insbesondere wird herausgearbeitet, wie unterschiedliche soziale Klassenpositionen einen nachhaltigen Lebenshabitus ermöglichen oder einschränken, welche regionalen kulturellen Elemente für und gegen ökologische Konvivialität hilfreich sind und wie genau unterschiedliche politische Felder die konviviale Small-P-Politik über die Taiwanstraße prägen. / This doctoral study draws upon Ulrich Beck’s theory of cosmopolitanization as a research framework to securitize sustainable living in Beijing and Taipei and examine how global risk has metamorphosed the worldview and daily practices. I propose the notion of ecological conviviality as a lens through which to analyze the sustainable lifestyle practices promoted by environmentalists and their green groups in these two Greater Chinese communities. Ecological conviviality refers to peaceful living and symbiotic relationships between humans and nature as a way to combat the unlimited growth of industrial productivity and mass consumption. This study echoes recent discussion on the real existence of living-with-difference by situating conviviality further within sustainable living relationships, which include social relationships between peoples, nature, and the future. The research findings cast light on the conviviality of sustainable living as an alternative to dominating but conflicting discourses by seeing sustainable living as a tool of neoliberal governmentality or the action of lifestyle movement. In addition to revealing how environmentalist participants have metamorphosed from the anticipation of global catastrophe into ecological conviviality, the latter part of this dissertation explicates three forms of convivial precariousness that are ingrained in peaceful relationships between humans and nature. Specifically, it unravels how social class position(-ing) either enables or limits eco-habitus, how regional cultural elements impact ecological conviviality, and how different political fields shape convivial small-p politics across the Taiwan Strait. This study suggests that the sustainable living movement could nurture ecological conviviality. However, ecological conviviality is subject to the three precarious factors that are essential to examining the prospects and limitations of sustainable living for Greater Chinese communities and beyond.

This thesis seeks to better understand the most pressing cultural barriers to progress in the sustainability movement, and to offer suggestions for overcoming barriers. This research includes a two-year long case study of the sustainability movement at OSU, where the researcher coordinated projects encouraging behavior change. Despite increasing severity and knowledge of environmental problems, behavior on-campus continues largely unchanged. Cultural norms and values of western society underlie reasons why behavior is not changing on-campus. The OSU case study grounds cultural barriers identified in analysis of semi-structured interviews with campus sustainability leaders. Literature for this research looks at cultural norms and values which block progress in the movement and critiques current efforts which rely too heavily on science and technology to solve fundamentally human problems in pursuing sustainability. Some of the more prevalent cultural barriers identified in this research include: a lack of time and/or money to get involved in the movement or make behavior changes, reactionary thinking, a growing sense of entitlement, and a lack of dialogue about the sacrifices needed to create a more sustainable society. In examining ways to overcome cultural barriers to progress, the researcher suggests crafting the sustainability message to be accessible, relatable, valuable and manageable to the average person. The framework for crafting the sustainability message is guided by the notion that progress in the movement will be defined by a focus on creative, personal, and spiritual aspects of human life, in addition to scientific and technological measures. / Graduation date: 2012

This study investigated the local and sustainable food movements in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. The aim of the research was to better understand the current condition of the phenomenon, what it means to the communities studied and the future role it will play in the state. Other research objectives that were studied included the impact of demographics on food movements, successes and barriers to success and determining the motivations of people involved. Key players in the city of Corvallis and Portland were interviewed to gather qualitative data about the movement. Interviewees were chosen based on criteria established through literature review that pointed towards groups that would be the most valuable on which to focus. The study revealed a dynamic and progressive social movement that has profound and beneficial implications on the civic wellbeing of the communities studied both currently and for their future. In addition, through this work key goals were identified that can be transferred to other communities looking to work towards a more sustainable food system in order to better facilitate their growth and prosperity. / Graduation date: 2013