This article raises some reflections on some approaches to sustainable development (SD) and on the contributions environmental psychology (EP) can make in order to promote sustainable communities, in the Latin American context. For this purpose: a) some of the proposals for SD, formulated in various contexts and disciplines, are analysed in terms of the place they assign to the psychosocial dimension and the way they deal with it, b) some of the theoretical approaches and methodological strategies which, in general terms, have oriented professional practice in EP are briefly described on the basis of their potential contributions for a SD in our continent, c) some considerations on the requirements for an EP oriented towards producing relevant knowledge for SD are outlined. Finally, and taking as example the articulation between urban unplanned settlements and the "formal city", some of the challenges and requirements for a model of SD, based on the principles suggested for an EP oriented towards promoting sustainability are pointed out.
environmental psychology; sustainable development; alternative approaches