Acting for Sustainability: Mapping Individual Competencies Across Life Domains

Abstract

Facing interlinked environmental, social, and economic crises, advancing sustainability requires more than institutional reforms; it demands transforming individual mindsets, behaviors, and competencies. This study positions the individual as a central change agent and proposes an integrative model beyond traditional scoping review boundaries. It maps sustainability competencies across three interconnected domains: civic, educational, and professional engagement. Based on a comprehensive scoping review, the study identifies how these competencies are conceptualized and applied within distinct institutional contexts. By bridging fragmented disciplinary perspectives, the model uncovers shared patterns and role-specific nuances, emphasizing contextual adaptability and systemic thinking. Theoretically, the article contributes to developing a unified understanding of individual agency for sustainability. Socially, it highlights the urgency of empowering individuals, as citizens, students, or professionals, to take informed, responsible action in pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The findings offer insights for educators, policymakers, and organizations seeking to cultivate sustainability-oriented competencies across society.