Environmental Education, Sustainable Lifestyle Choices and the Built-Environment: The Case of Ghana

Abstract

The unprecedented growth of cities and urban centres in our modern world, along with their associated environmental pressures, is a concern we must address to ensure a healthy life. Thus, concepts such as environmental education and sustainable lifestyle choices, as well as the built environment, represent deliberate and innovative efforts by scientists, environmentalists, and scholars to mitigate the adverse impacts resulting from human efforts to improve living standards on Earth. Currently, much literature exists in the field of Urban Development Studies that discusses environmental education, sustainable lifestyle choices, and the built environment. Nevertheless, evidence suggests that the desired impact is yet to be achieved. While some people recognise the importance of their consumption choices and care about environmental issues, most of them unfortunately do not translate their concerns into concrete actions when purchasing goods and services. The situation is worse in Ghana because most people are unaware of the impact of their lifestyles on the physical environment. Using a desk study and primary research approach, this paper explores the relationship between environmental education and sustainable lifestyles, and their combined impact on ensuring the well-being of the built environment in Ghana