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Living Sustainably

by Nina Munteanu

Jun 3, 2026 - 08

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The Sustainability Thread is a thematic series of articles, curated by Canadian SF author Nina Munteanu and sponsored by Reality Skimming Press. Pieces in the series appear twice a month Query Nina Munteanu about appearing on the thread at nina.sfgirl@gmail.com

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Nina Munteanu, Ecologist and Author. Image credit: (LEFT, waferboard, 2012).
Nina Munteanu, Ecologist and Author. Image credit: (LEFT, waferboard, 2012).

Thoughts on Individual Responsibility and Environmental Citizenship


According to Environment Canada, being a citizen: is “not just about voting or carrying a passport, it is about recognizing one’s membership in the community of all living things and acknowledging responsibilities toward this community.” The Oxford Dictionary defines the word environment as “surrounding region or conditions, especially circumstances of life or person or society.” This definition presents infinite possibilities just begging for interpretation. How many of us, for instance, fail to acknowledge our home as part of the environment?


Trees in the mist. Image credit: (Munteanu, 2026)
Trees in the mist. Image credit: (Munteanu, 2026)

Living sustainably starts with environmental citizenship. How does one promote environmental citizenship in our daily lives? Embracing environmental citizenship is not as easy as following green-fad prescriptions. It involves a personal acknowledgement, a fair amount of soul-searching, and a gradual shift in self-perspective. At the heart of this shift in environmental view are four key perspectives to nurture: 1. self-esteem; 2. an eco-centric view; 3. optimism; and 4. a local perspective.


  1. Self-esteem: Acknowledging and accepting our roots forms the basis of self-acceptance and self-esteem. Without genuine self-esteem, we tend to look for simple, superficial gratification, represented in North America by the glitter of our consumer economy, to satisfy our emptiness. Dr. Val Schaefer of the School of Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria stresses the importance of self-esteem in how we view nature: “If you have good self-esteem, then you appreciate your own intrinsic value; you aren’t defining yourself by your job, your power structure in the community, what committees you control, or by other possessions...It’s the same with nature.”

  2. Eco-centric view: The prevalent North American world view is human-centred; our own perspective is the most important to us. Says Dr. Schaefer, “Right now we value comfort, security, and predictability. So, we get hung up on our central heating in our big houses, our RRSPs and our pensions. I think it is a reflection of how we are dissatisfied in some way...and manifests itself in terms of us living in the future...or the past...[instead of] just focusing on the present.” According to Environment Canada “sustained life is the property of ecosystems, not organisms or species.” Eco-centrism recognizes and respects the importance of biodiversity and survival of all life, including humankind. We must learn to celebrate our existence as a beautiful and wonderful species if we are to find our place, our home and our souls on this planet.


  1. Optimism: Optimism provides direction, motivation and power to change. Together with self-esteem, optimism provides the strength to persist, even against adversity. One chooses to be optimistic. One chooses to trust others. One chooses to have faith. If we ponder the history of our species on this planet, we can dwell on the negative aspect of our existence on this planet or we can highlight and further develop our symbiotic partnership with our planet.


  1. Local perspective: Dr. Schaefer is a strong proponent of the phrase ‘think locally, act locally’, a new perspective to the 1970’s catch phrase ‘think globally, act locally’. “An undue emphasis on global benefits may discourage rather than reinforce individual action,” says Schaefer and adds that it is not as easy to identify with a global community as a local one. “If you don’t identify with your community, you don’t know that there’s something wrong...and you won’t care either.”


Dr. Schaefer, says: “Being a good environmental citizen […] is not only recycling or taking the bus. It’s to do with how you deal with another person, whether you respect that individual and his or her views.” Dr. Peter Ballin, of Vancouver Community College, emphasizes that we must first respect ourselves, then one another, other creatures and the planet. It begins with a strong sense of self and belonging to the community that extends from one’s family outward to the community of life. Ballin reminds us that “someone who’s a good citizen doesn’t take himself or herself out of the picture.” Someone who’s a good environmental citizen doesn’t take himself or herself out of the environment.


A version of this article was first published in the May 1995 issue of Shared Vision Magazine.


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Nina Munteanu is an Canadian ecologist, author, editor and writing coach, notably but not exclusively in the realm of Speculative Fiction (SF/F). In addition to nine published novels, Munteanu has written short stories, articles and non-fiction books, which have been translated into several languages throughout the world. Munteanu is a member of SF Canada.



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