Sustainability has entered into modern consciousness, driven by an increase in global
population, a long period of worldwide economic growth, the resulting shortage of
materials, and the environmental pressures which such growth generates. Awareness
of related issues has been heightened recently through overwhelming evidence that
climate change is upon us; and that we have only a brief opportunity in which to take
effective action. Although the manner of living adopted by the majority of modern
societies is unsustainable, it is possible for us to live more sustainably. If we are
to mitigate the environmental and social pressures which are increasingly causing
conflict, we must embark on a more sustainable path.
Sustainable development seeks to improve on the prevailing capitalist economic
system by addressing the areas which have failed to deliver environmentally and
socially sustainable outcomes. The triple bottom line enables decisions to be made
based on due consideration of these factors in the face of pure economic profit. The
Five Capitals model shows how revenue can be used to generate, rather than deplete,
capital resources. It also challenges economic measurements of national success,
such as GDP, in favour of more representative assessment incorporating other factors
that contribute towards human well-being.
In spite of this growing awareness, denial, resistance to change, the need for
stakeholder integration in problem solving, a loss of connection to the world around
us and the belief that technology will save the day have all contributed to current
levels of inactivity and lack of progress. However, these barriers have been the subject
of increasing research; and answers are starting to emerge as to how they can be
overcome effectively. A growing number of influential individuals are now in a position
to develop sustainable corporate and governmental policies. In this regard, the built
environment plays a crucial role in determining how development can be achieved
without compromising sustainability. Fostering a cultural climate which encourages a
rethink of how the built environment performs and uses that review process to develop
innovative solutions to currently unsustainable practices is key in moving towards
long-term sustainability.
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