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'Cash rich, but time poor' is an old adage but appropriate in better understanding the impact of work-life balance, consumption patterns and other economic, social, cultural, political and technological factors on sustainable lifestyles, and on the transformation towards a green economy.

A multidisciplinary team from 11 universities and research institutions across Europe came together in the GLAMURS project to study in more detail how certain lifestyles influence sustainability goals in seven different European regions. They developed comprehensive models of lifestyle changes in key domains of sustainability, and evaluated them in terms of economic and environmental effects.

Everyday lifestyle choices by EU citizens are a key focus of the GLAMURS study, alongside the actions of so-called 'sustainability pacesetters', including food, clothing and energy cooperatives, repair cafes, eco-villages, and even bio-regions.

GLAMURS set out to show how the lifestyles of sustainability pioneers, for example, could inspire regional actors to make the changes needed to become sustainable, green economies. Case studies and regional analyses carried out by the project also provide insight into how to scale up good practices.

The project has examined "participatory visions" of the future, according to project coordinator Adina Dumitru of Spain's Universidade Da Coruña. "We use a method called back-casting scenario development to define a series of visions of the future showing sustainable lifestyles and a green economy in each region, as well as the pathways to reach those visions."

GLAMURS' sustainable lifestyle models are being developed at individual, community and society levels. "Our time-use approach to lifestyles and ' multi-level way of analysing both current and future possibilities are highly innovative," Dumitru says.

The importance of being time rich

A series of GLAMURS workshops, which applied the back-casting scenario method, resulted in 14 'visions' clustered into three main groupings: urban green growth, urban sufficiency and rural sufficiency.

"Work is still going on refining the visions and assessing their environmental and macro-economic implications, as well as the implications for policy when we analyse them in conjunction with people's social, environmental and wellbeing motivations," says Dumitru.

Of particular importance to people's wellbeing is what the researchers call "time affluence" ' making time for things that matter and moderating the pace of life. Time affluence is affected by giving people a sense of control over the organisation of work and leisure, which is an important motivator and starting point for leading more sustainable lifestyles.

Policy impact

GLAMURS' findings are already making important policy and legislative waves. Ricardo García Mira ' a former project partner who has been elected to the Spanish Parliament ' has tabled a legislative proposal for a new framework to support sustainable lifestyles in Spain.

"This was long overdue and I have been impressed by the wide interest and support we received from a variety of stakeholders," he says. "We are placing sustainable lifestyles on the public agenda, because although there is a lot of talk about climate change, focusing on sustainable lifestyles emphasises the shared responsibility for change that we have as a society."

Although the project officially ends in December 2016, the partners will continue meeting with each other and disseminating the results of their research, according to Dumitru. "The partners will do a lot of work together beyond the project finish line, to publish their exciting findings. Their results are interdependent so it is paramount we work together, and we will be doing so during the next few years."

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