Sustainable Development, Ecological Footprint, Carbon Footprint, Biomimicry, Permaculture, and Proactive Behavior

The aim of this book chapter is to lay the concepts of sustainable development, ecological footprint, carbon footprint, permaculture and biomimicry, which are thought to complement one another and serve almost the same purpose, on the basis of proactive behaviors. Sustainable development means balancing ecological, social, and economic dimensions and meeting the needs of the present without consuming the resources of future generations. The ecological footprint is an indicator of sustainable development and involves calculations relevant to the world’s energy consumption, capacity and overall biomass efficiency. A carbon footprint is a type of ecological footprint, while biomimicry involves the emulation of nature to create pathways for crafting innovative designs. The discipline of permaculture derives from permanent culture and agriculture and concerns about creating sustainable living spaces. In this regard, sustainability may be ensured with the inclusion of proactive mindsets as opposed to reactive perspectives to facilitate individual ownership of sustainability within social lifestyles and business environments.