just what is sustainable develpment?

The intro to a recent report from the Optimum Population Trust cuaght my eye and made me start thinking about just what is sustainable development - have we abused the term in construction, housing and the built environment - are we remaining true to the origianl concept and context. Perhaps we have redefined sd to suit our own needs - to be seen as sustainable - to get the doing something right feelgood factor - but perhaps, just perhaps working against the true goals and aims of sustainability in its ecological sense? I recall reading that Inuits consider sustainability to be effective only if it does not limit or harm seven future generations. We find it difficult to think beyond the next.

OPT: Countryside, devlopment, housing and diversity
The Degradation of the Planet

The report starts:

The concept of 'sustainable development' has moved far away from its original meaning, which implied long-term ecological sustainability. The term is now widely abused - for example to describe building development which does not in any sense meet the fundamental requirements of ecological sustainability. These are that such development does not (by increasing total urbanisation) contribute to destabilising climate change; that such development can be supported in a post-fossil fuel energy age; that such development does not continue the destruction of biodiversity; and in the case of the UK, that it does not continue to destroy our natural landscape and countryside.

more at http://www.optimumpopulation.org/opt.more.countryside.html

arch talk

AT-09: Sustainability with Dan Rappel

Green buildings and sustainable architecture: a conversation with Dan Rappel about increasing the level of sustainability that new buildings have, and beyond.

This recent Archtalk podcast contains an entertaining and informative discussion on sustainability within the built enviroment. Set within the context of th city of Chicago, the discussion covers the LEED programme (a similar programme to the UK BREAM scheme), the ambition of Chicago to be the first green city as an extension to green buildings and views of where beyond sustainability will take design and the built environment.

Available from http://www.schellarch.com/archtalk/ or downloadable through itunes.