Top-10 research priorities for sustainable futures: Insights from and for Austria

Sustainability in lifestyles is closely connected to the change of every day patterns of individuals and their approach towards food and consumption, mobility and transport, housing, education, health and recreation with strong cross-linkages with communities and interpersonal relationships. Lifestyles also relate to cultural heritage as well as specifics of natural and economic environment. Hence, sustainability in lifestyles is also determined by the surrounding environment, not only personal needs.

This policy brief presents and reviews Top-10 lists of sustainable research priorities for Europe and for Austria. These priorities have been formed in systematic interaction with citizens and experts. In Austria, the following recommendation were elaborated following the insights gained by the analysis of the 10 research priorities: 1) Sustainability as a concept should be integrated into the efforts to foster the establishment of new businesses. So far there only exist separated approaches like outlined in the government program for 2013-2018; 2) The MONE Indicator reports should serve as a basis for the future implementation of regulatory action to foster sustainability on all levels, and; 3) The areas identified as improvable by the UNECE report on sustainable education in Austria should be tackled by a new program and new initiatives specifically targeting these fields (e.g. lifelong learning).