Happiness and green lifestyle

Research in both environmental psychology and environmental economics has accumulated impressive evidence that engaging in pro-environmental behaviours is associated with greater subjective wellbeing. This chapter discusses the available evidence with the aim of contributing to a better understanding of how green lifestyle and wellbeing are related. Following a summary of pertinent empirical studies, the chapter discusses possible motives underlying pro-environmental behaviours (PEBs) and how they fit into explanatory models of the occurrence of PEBs. The chapter proceeds by interpreting the available evidence in the light of those models, discussing in particular what the evidence implies with respect to the wellbeing benefits and costs of PEBs. The chapter concludes by discussing the policy implications that may follow from different interpretations of the evidence.