Answer to Question G: Do you think that the lifestyle of the inhabitants of your town or city reflects behavior that is in line with the concept of sustainable development? In your opinion, what should be improved? References: - Brussels Environment Indicators. Retrieved from http://www.environnement.brussels/guichet/indicateur - European Green City Index. Retrieved from http://www.siemens.com/press/pool/de/events/corporate/2009-12-Cop15/European_Green_City_Index.pdf - SPREAD Sustainable Lifestyles 2050. Retrieved from http://www.sustainable-lifestyles.eu

1. IE Global MBA Application
By Byron Vermeulen
Express Yourself - Question G

2. Do you think that the lifestyle of the inhabitants of
your town or city reflects behavior that is line
with the concept of sustainable development?
In your opinion, what should be improved?

3. Sustainable Development
MEETING THE NEEDS OF
THE PRESENT WITHOUT
COMPROMISING THE
ABILITY OF FUTURE
GENERATIONS TO MEET
THEIR OWN NEEDS
Economic
Growth
Social
Well-Being
Environmental
Performance

4. Selected Indicators about My City, Brussels
 GDP per head, PPP: 49’555€
 Annual Gross Disposable Income per
household: 23’924€ (vs. EU average 20’732€)
 Population below poverty line: 15.1% (124th
worldwide)
 Access to Basic Health Services for All
 One of the World’s Strongest Social
Security System (Unemployment,
Retirement, Healthcare)
 Tertiary Education Enrolment Rate: 70.83%
(among which 55% are women)
 Energy Consumption per head: 86.88 GJ
(vs. EU average of 81 GJ)
 Share of Renewable Energy used by the
city: 0.58% (vs. EU average of 7.4%)
 > 50% driving to work vs. 2% cycling or
walking (vs. EU average of 21%)
 Share of Waste Recycled: 23.68%
 Total Meat Consumption per capita per
year: 77kg (vs. World average of 42kg)
 Total Milk Consumption per capita per
year: 238kg (vs. World average of 108kg)
 Annual Water Consumption per head:
54.04 m3 (vs. EU average of 105 m3)
ECONOMY
SOCIAL
ENVIRONMENT

5. These indicators demonstrate that it is
now time for Brussels to further improve its
environmental performance while maintaining
social and economic well-being.
There are three main aspects of Brussels
citizens’ lifestyle impacting the environment :
eating, moving, and living.

6. DO BRUSSELS CITIZENS
EAT, MOVE, & LIVE
IN A SUSTAINABLE WAY ?

7. EATING
Proliferation of Organic Shops
Environmental Awareness
Campaigns
Food Safety Concerns
Speeding Up / Pace of Life
Availability of Processed,
Low-Cost & Fast Food
Habits / Culture
Junk Food
High Consumption of
Meat & Diary
Non Seasonal, Exotic Imports
HABITS
ENCOURAGING MOVES
TOWARD SUSTAINABILITY
PERSISTENT
UNSUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLES
REASONS BEHIND
UNSUSTAINABLE BEHAVIORS

8. GOVERNMENT / POLICY
Policy for « Fat » Tax
Adaptation of Food Prices
to Reduce Meat, Dairy, &
« Exotic » Consumption
CITIZENS MOVEMENTS
Consumers as Producers
Urban / Rooftop Farming
Adaptation of Diet toward
Sustainable Options
BUSINESSES
Easier Access to
Sustainable Food
Affordable Healthy
Food Shops
More Local Farmers’ Market
TRIPARTITE IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED

9. MOVING
Recent Apparition of
« Car-Free » Zones
Bike-Sharing Services
Flexible Work Options
Home Office
Suburban Lifestyle
Spread Out City
Convenience
Cheaper Air Fares
Status Symbol
Single Car Use
« One of European Union’s Highest»
Intensive Air Travel
ENCOURAGING MOVES
TOWARD SUSTAINABILITY
PERSISTENT
UNSUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLES
REASONS BEHIND
UNSUSTAINABLE BEHAVIORS

10. TRIPARTITE IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED
GOVERNMENT / POLICY
Congestion Charges
Limited Parking Options
Heavy Fuel Taxes
Urban Planning to Decrease
Mobility Needs
CITIZENS MOVEMENTS
Collaborative Transport
Use of Efficient
Transportation Technology
Pivot toward Sustainable
Transportation
BUSINESSES
Pivot toward Sustainable
Models (e.g. Electric Car)
Creation of Attractive Local
& Eco-Tourism Options
Reinvention of
Working Habits

11. LIVING
Apparition of «Eco-Houses»
Eco-Friendly Subsidies
Energy & Waste Campaigns
Individualism
Status Symbol Associated
with Ownership
Desire for Technology
(Energy Intensive)
Average House Size
« One of the Highest among European Capitals »
More Stuff, More Waste
Heavy Energy Use per House
Absence of Renewable Energy
ENCOURAGING MOVES
TOWARD SUSTAINABILITY
PERSISTENT
UNSUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLES
REASONS BEHIND
UNSUSTAINABLE BEHAVIORS
BRUSSELS

12. TRIPARTITE IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED
GOVERNMENT / POLICY
Adaptation of Utilities Prices
to Reduce Consumption
Access to Convenient Recycling
Taxes - « True Cost Products »
CITIZENS MOVEMENTS
Collaborative Consumption
vs. Ownership Structure
Renewable Energy Use
Switch toward Co-Housing
BUSINESSES
Availability of Sustainable
Products & Housing
Business Models
Focusing on
Reducing Consumption

13. MULTIPLE REASONS BEHIND UNSUSTAINABLE BEHAVIORS
NECESSITY FOR JOINT EFFORTS
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS CITIZENS
POLICY INNOVATION ACTIONS
BRUSSELS MORE SUSTAINABLE

14. Thank you for considering my application