Principal questions
Extensive industrial development and urbanization in the 20th century raised living standards but also exacerbated global environmental, demographic, inequality, and food-related problems. Meanwhile, the transition to a post-industrial stage in Western countries, along with changes in social structures and the rise of “post-materialistic” values (self-expression, participation, minority rights, etc.), increased the demand for an improved quality of life. The focus has shifted to human beings and their needs. Analysts, public figures, and politicians are now tasked with answering some key questions: How do global problems affect people and their quality of life? How can human needs be met given limited resources and global challenges? And if we meet current needs using available resources, what kind of planet will we leave for future generations? How do consumption patterns in urban areas affect global sustainability, and what changes are needed to ensure a balance between human needs and environmental health? Can smart city technologies sufficiently address both the immediate needs of urban residents and the long-term goals of sustainability.
Back to pre-history of the sustainable development
Since the 1960s and 70s, various scientists and organizations have sought to answer these questions. For example, members of the Club of Rome made such attempts in their reports, including The Limits to Growth, Mankind at the Turning Point, and Goals for Mankind. These reports highlighted the changes caused by uncontrolled economic growth. Given limited resources and a growing population, the authors clearly demonstrated that economic growth and improvements in well-being cannot continue indefinitely.
One of the most important reports was Human Quality by the Club’s first president, Aurelio Peccei, who presented several key ideas on the distinction between growth and development, and the role of humanity. Peccei emphasized the need to reorganize the goals and objectives of human activity. He argued that while humans possess immense power, they are not yet equipped to address modern challenges due to cultural incompetence and an imbalance of human qualities. He stressed the importance of developing human qualities and improving them to move away from a civilization focused on material values and toward a future that ensures human dignity. Peccei called for a shift in focus from satisfying desires to asking, “Who are we?” and “Who can we become?”. He formulated six goals related to the planets “external limits”, the “internal limits” of human beings, the cultural heritage to be passed on to future generations, the international community, the environment that must be protected, and the need to reorganize the industrial system.
The reports of the Club of Rome helped create a favorable intellectual environment for the development of concepts like sustainable development and quality of life, and their application in real-world plans, programs, and policies.
Sustainable development as a common value
The concept of sustainable development has gained popularity in recent decades. It has become a standard part of public, political, and scientific discourse, adopted by numerous programs, organizations, and institutions. For example, by the mid-2000s, “sustainable development” was mentioned in over 8.7 million web pages. It has also become a key initiative promoted by the United Nations for a promising future. While the connection between sustainable development and quality of life may seem obvious, the importance of these concepts, along with their vagueness, lack of unified evaluation criteria, and limited practical applications, highlights the need for further clarification.
Sustainable development is not just about saving the planet; it is about creating a better world for people. Human beings and cities are at the center of these concerns, especially as more people now live in urban areas. Sustainable development can be defined as meeting the needs of the present “without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. According to the Brundtland Report, sustainable development has several interdependent dimensions that must be balanced: society (meeting basic human needs), environment (ensuring long-term ecological sustainability), culture, and economy.
Quality of life and human needs
The term “quality of life” has evolved from the concept of “standard of living” influenced by dissatisfaction, especially in Western countries, with the environmental and social impacts of modernization and industrial development. Quality of life addresses people’s perceptions of their position in life in relation to their culture, values, and expectations. It encompasses social relations, equality, participation, identity, emotions, nature, education, knowledge, leisure, health, safety, mobility, income, and work.
The subjective aspect of quality of life largely depends on culture, tradition, and personal traits. For some, quality of life is about materialistic values, such as having more money, a bigger home, or an expensive car. For others, it is about health, reducing stress, having more time to relax, and spending time with friends. Studies show a positive correlation between life satisfaction, self-assessed well-being, and environmental performance on both national and local levels. This aligns with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, where the satisfaction of basic needs precedes the pursuit of higher-level fulfillment. Thus, quality of life can be seen as a reflection of human well-being, as well as a measure of how fully individuals and groups can realize their potential given the environmental and societal conditions in which they live.
The majority of the world’s population now resides in cities, where urban residents are generally more economically and socially active. Cities generate the largest amount of public goods, but they also face infrastructural challenges, stress, and social fragmentation, which impact quality of life. On one hand, people’s perception of their position in life becomes more complex in urban environments, while on the other, cities shape the agenda for addressing human needs and future development. Studying urban life helps us better understand the relationship between sustainable development and quality of life.
Bridging the gap: The interplay between sustainable development and quality of life
How can we explain the connection between sustainable development and quality of life? It concerns whether social, environmental, and economic systems are providing a healthy, meaningful, and productive life for individuals, society as a whole, and future generations. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals include key targets aimed at environmental protection and human well-being, which are directly related to quality of life. For example, they encompass essential components of quality of life such as health, equity, and safety.
Several SDGs directly relate to the quality of life in cities. These include:
- Good health and well-being (ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages which is essential to improving quality of life in urban areas, addressing healthcare access, pollution reduction, and mental health).
- Clean water and sanitation (ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation which is critical for public health and overall quality of life in cities).
- Affordable and clean energy (access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for better living conditions, economic opportunities, and environmental sustainability in urban settings).
- Decent work and economic growth (promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth that, along with decent work opportunities, boosts quality of life through job creation, fair wages, and work-life balance in urban areas).
- Industry, innovation, and infrastructure (building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation for improving urban services, transportation, and living standards).
- Reduced inequalities (reducing inequality within and among countries aims to provide equitable access to opportunities, resources, and services, improving quality of life, especially for vulnerable urban populations).
- Sustainable cities and communities (making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable which directly targets the quality of life in urban areas through improved housing, transportation, air quality, and waste management).
- Responsible consumption and production (ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns helps reduce environmental degradation in cities, contributing to healthier, more livable urban environments).
- Climate action (taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts which is critical for cities, as urban areas are often vulnerable to climate risks, affecting the well-being and safety of residents).
- Life on land (protecting, restoring, and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, forests, and biodiversity which enhances urban green spaces, contributing to better air quality and quality of life in cities).
These SDGs collectively focus on improving urban environments and living standards, ensuring that cities become more sustainable and livable for present and future generations. There are some obvious examples of implementations of SDGs in cities.
For instance, it is possible to reduce environmental pollution, improve soil and water quality and get some additional resources form recycling by implementing sustainable development programs. One of the impressive examples of such programs is a new circular sewer system in Swedish city Helsingborg where waste is been transporting by the pipe system and transforming into biogas, which is used as fuel for local buses, etc.
It is also possible to make peoples’ life healthier, more comfortable and less stressed by implementing the programs of smart and sustainable cities. Smart cities use modern technologies (AI, IoT, blockchain, etc.) to improve quality of life. Integrated into the single system technologies are used to improve the quality and availability of services, to reduce costs and consumption of resources and to improve communication. As a result, cities become more pleasant and suitable for living.
Human and other factors
I will give some obvious examples.
Many examples can also be provided. In practice, sustainable development takes different forms and impacts quality of life in various ways, depending on the country, culture, and other factors. In some nations, it is implemented through government and corporate policies aimed at improving access to education, healthcare, and food, while in others, it focuses on promoting eco-culture (such as green universities like Algebra University College in Croatia and specialized educational programs), smart cities, and sustainable tourism (with initiatives like the Trash Hero movement, BEES Elephant Sanctuary in Thailand, and Feynan Ecolodge in Jordan). It also involves fostering public participation in decision-making processes.
Sustainable development is about giving everyone the opportunity for a better quality of life. However, not everyone starts from the same place with equal resources. Therefore, inclusiveness and joint effort are essential. The development of sustainable communities, where members participate in decision-making and have access to resources for healthy, productive lives, is crucial. Achieving progress in quality of life through sustainable development at different levels requires careful planning, with input from both communities and citizens.
An important aspect of sustainable development is personal choice. We all face tough decisions about how to spend our time. Does focusing on the future bring greater quality of life than enjoying the present? Or are we happier living in the moment? How can we approach this dilemma consciously and resolve it?
Perhaps you’ve heard of CopenHill, or maybe you’ve seen this impressive new architectural landmark. It’s a waste-to-energy plant combined with an urban recreation center and environmental education hub, topped with a ski slope, hiking trails, and a climbing wall. Have you ever visited the first cradle-to-cradle business park, Park 20|20 in the Netherlands, built entirely with reusable materials? It’s a space designed not only for work but also for socializing, relaxing, and sports. Or have you heard of the Atelier, a preschool in Bangalore designed by Biome Environmental Solutions? Inspired by the Reggio Emilia educational approach, this center balances sensitivity and tactility, encouraging a child’s sense of wonder. The school is a temporary structure that can be dismantled to recover all materials, which can then be reused to construct the same building or a completely new one.
These examples show that we can find solutions where there is no contradiction between focusing on the future and enjoying the present. Improving quality of life and meeting present needs through sustainable development ensures a greater likelihood of accommodating future generations’ needs. However, understanding this and acting accordingly require the development of human qualities, as Peccei emphasized, along with the implementation of research, education, and public awareness programs.
