| Sustainable agriculture. Sustainable economy. | | | | more sustainably or managing (controlling) resources |
| Sustainable bags, buildings and boots. In today's | | | | to meet our present needs as well as future needs. |
| 'environment' sustainability seems to sound like an | | | | Effective sustainable development would occur when |
| overused and wide ranging term which can be applied | | | | we replace the resources we rely on heavily with |
| to almost anything, yet how many people can give a | | | | renewable ones. |
| precise and concise definition as to what it actually | | | | The most recognised and widely used definition of |
| means? | | | | sustainable development was coined up by the Brunt |
| The broadest definition of sustainability is "the ability | | | | wood commission presented at the United Nations |
| to keep in existence or maintain". In its broadest | | | | conference on environment and development held in |
| sense sustainability is a concept - in other words, an | | | | 1992 Rio. They too loosely defined sustainable |
| idea or a notion which is on its way to being or has | | | | development as 'development that meets the needs |
| not yet been fully feasible. The goal or potential for | | | | of the present without compromising the ability of |
| long term maintenance and well being of human life is | | | | future generations to meet their own needs." |
| heavily dependent upon the maintenance and well | | | | However, the fact that resources are being depleted |
| being of the natural world as well as the use of its | | | | and future generations may have to hear the words |
| resources. To achieve overall sustainability (on all | | | | 'nothing ran as good as it did on petrol' whilst using |
| fronts) or the definition of ideal sustainability (long | | | | alternative renewable sources, clearly screams out |
| term maintenance of human life) is theoretically made | | | | compromise. The UN's definition has attracted much |
| up of the reconciliation of 3 pillars or areas of | | | | more hard hitting criticism such as that from Joan |
| sustainability to maintain human life's dependence on) | | | | Veon, a businesswoman and international reporter, |
| these are social, environmental and economical. | | | | who covered 64 global meetings on sustainable |
| For the purposes of this article we shall say | | | | development |
| environmental sustainability is the most widely | | | | "Sustainable development has continued to evolve as |
| connotated aspect of sustainability, when we hear | | | | that of protecting the world's resources whilst its |
| sustainability, we immediately think of global warming, | | | | true agenda is to control the world's resources. It |
| pollution, renewable energy and the likes thereof. | | | | should be noted that agenda 21 sets up the global |
| Natural resources are being used by all industries, | | | | infrastructure needed to manage, count and control |
| some more than others, the way in which they are | | | | all of the world's assets". |
| used and also the amounts they are being used in will | | | | Regardless of the criticism, it is worth nothing that |
| determine the potential and the extent to which this | | | | since the UN conference on environment and |
| goal can be achieved | | | | development, all the countries present have organised |
| In the 1970's it was widely becoming obvious that | | | | sustainable development commissions within their |
| there is a fanatic limit to the earth's resources and | | | | own countries, some advising their respective |
| since then vast amounts of scientific research and | | | | governments on living sustainably i.e. sustainable |
| evidence has proved that sustainability is still only a | | | | agriculture, sustainable investments, sustainable |
| concept, a potential term and has not yet been | | | | construction etc. |
| achieved, therefore we are living in a state of | | | | The application of sustainable development as defined |
| unsustainability. At present, the earth cannot continue | | | | in the section above to the construction industry is |
| supporting human life as it is known to us, on a long | | | | known as sustainable or green construction. |
| term basis. Once sustainability is achieved in all areas | | | | Sustainable construction is relatively concerned with |
| through collective effort, it is not to say the earth will | | | | reducing the environmental impact of building or |
| be able to continue supporting human life without | | | | running a building long term. In order to achieve this, |
| compromise. It is important to note that although | | | | there are various strategies, initiatives and techniques |
| thinking sustainably will generate innovative | | | | in place. |
| approaches and solutions to the challenges we face, | | | | An ideal or efficient green or sustainable building is |
| it will not eliminate these challenges, unless we | | | | versatile and has a long life, the way it is built as well |
| eliminate on non renewable natural resources. | | | | as the way it consumes energy resources is efficient |
| Rather than defining sustainability as a concept or a | | | | and has low negative environmental impact. Principles |
| potential goal, I would say sustainability is a journey. | | | | of sustainable/green construction i.e. Ways to build |
| The destination is the almost complete and total | | | | sustainably include using natural and recycled materials |
| elimination of our dependence on inevitably non | | | | or even using local materials to cut down on carbon |
| sustainable resources, and sustainable development is | | | | emission involved in transporting the materials. |
| the route to our destination. The element of not | | | | Construction techniques that aim to save energy and |
| knowing exactly how long the journey is and the | | | | also waste during the build process will also make the |
| compromise of forsaking resources along the way | | | | development more sustainable. |
| should not hinder us in travelling sustainably. Having | | | | There are various joint government and industry |
| said all this, the concept of sustainability is what it is, | | | | initiatives which are in place to increase awareness of |
| its goals and how these should be achieved, (e.g. | | | | the importance of sustainable construction. Often |
| sustainable development) is a different variety now | | | | cost effectiveness and long term lower running costs |
| to what it was twenty years ago from now, in other | | | | are cited to promote sustainable construction. Waste |
| words, the terms and concepts of sustainability are | | | | management is often seen to be costly and a cost |
| open to interpretation. | | | | effective way of recycling waste is in place with |
| "I don't know whether we'll ever see the end of the | | | | many companies. Right down to grassroots level |
| age of oil, but I can tell you this...the Stone Age didn't | | | | energy efficiency certificates are required when |
| end because we ran out of stones!" -- Sheikh Yamani | | | | selling a domestic property. |
| 1973, former CEO of OPEC | | | | Low energy houses, zero carbon emission buildings |
| Over 35 years ago, one of the senior executives | | | | and also the use of more sustainable materials such |
| who formed OPEC predicted in his statement to the | | | | as recycled materials are already also the rise. The |
| press that the oil age isn't going to end because we | | | | presentation in task 2 will highlight in the form of a |
| run out of oil. He probably knew we would develop | | | | case study how an organisations actions impact on |
| and reach a stage where in some instances a wind | | | | the environment, it will also discuss the environmental |
| generating turbine will be (as is now) cheaper to run | | | | targets in place that shape a companies sustainable |
| and create kilowatt hours than burning natural gas, i.e. | | | | policy and practice. |
| it will be more cost effective to make renewable | | | | There has definitely been a shift of perspective |
| energy rather than burn non renewable fossil fuels. | | | | within not only jus construction but all industries be it |
| Sustainable development has fast become a buzz | | | | manufacturing or agriculture, whereas traditional |
| word in recent times. It is a notion which came about | | | | development in every sector was more about |
| after growing realisation that current models of | | | | delivering economic benefits at the expense of both |
| development were not sustainable due to the | | | | people and the environment, modern sustainable |
| depletion of non renewable resources. The term itself | | | | development does generate innovates and cost |
| is like the word 'sustainability' varied and open to | | | | effective solutions to the challenges we face with |
| interpretation. It can mean simply taking steps to live | | | | detrimental issues such as petrol. |