LAUSR

Sustainable health behaviours and, specifically, eating a sustainable diet and engaging in regular physical activity are healthpromoting behaviours that can simultaneously contribute to reduction of greenhouse gases which are known to contribute to climate change. Good health usually facilitates societal development, and development often promotes improved health. However, while good health may be a prerequisite for societal development, some behavioural determinants of health, such as attitudes towards the environment, and people’s lifestyles and consumption patterns, can impede the sustainability of the development process in the longer term. This perspective paper argues that there is a need to rethink 21st century health promotion practices by pairing sustainability literacy with health promotion for changing dietary and physical activity behaviour patterns to improve population health and contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 3 (to ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages). Significance for public health In the context of sustainable development, health promotion to bring about behaviour change in diet and physical activity patterns will require new approaches that also include sustainability literacy. Furthermore, sustainable health behaviour will contribute to curbing greenhouse gases that are linked to climate change which have consequences for population health and wellbeing.