01.1 Historical Background

Sustainable Architecture & Energy
Department of Architecture
MArch Yasmine Soudi
LECTURES_ UNIT 1
Unit 1: Introduction to Sustainable
Architecture
Part (1): Historical Background
Part (2): Definitions and Goals
Reference:
§ Dresner, S. (2002). The principles of sustainability. London: Earthscan.
§ Mawhinney, M. (2002). Sustainable Development: Understanding the green debates. Blackwell Science
Introduction to
Sustainable Architecture
1.1 Historical Background
- Why sustainability -
Reference:
§ Dresner, S. (2002). The principles of sustainability. London: Earthscan.
§ Mawhinney, M. (2002). Sustainable Development: Understanding the green debates. Blackwell
Science
The Built Environment
• The built environment is the humanitarian-made space in

which people live, work, and recreate on a day-to-day basis.
• The built environment is a term used to describe the

interdisciplinary field of study which addresses the design,
construction, management and use of the man-made
surroundings and their relationship to the human activities
which take place within them over time.
Sustainable Architecture & Energy _ M.Arch

3
Yasmine Soudi
Resources
Ecosystems
Human Conflict

4
Yasmine Soudi
Why Sustainability?
Issues to Address:
Environmental: Society/ social:
• Climate Change • Poverty and inequality

• Pollution to air, land and water • Loss of Quality of Life
• Water pollution, distribution and • Deteriorating human
availability health
• Waste production • Population growth
• Resource depletion
• Loss of natural habitats
(deforestation)
• Extinction of plants and animals and
loss of biodiversity
• Soil Degradation
• Geomorphological Damage 5
Why Sustainability?
Issues to Address:
‘’Sustainability is far more than just environmental issues. It also

address social issues with economic issues including enhancing
quality of life.’’
Equity
•Equity mainly between people

•Equity through time
•Environmental health or stability of the planet
•QUALITY OF LIFE for ALL
‘’Equity is about fairness – concern about sustainability must be

based on moral obligations to future generations, and not just
about what is happening now.’’
6
Yasmine Soudi
Environmental degradation can only be tackled if
economic and social issues are addressed at the same time.

7
Yasmine Soudi
Why Sustainability?
1.1 Historical Background :
Events regarding global

warming in the 1990s
(Dresner 2008)
Source: Shan Shan Hou, PhD thesis, 2014
8
Why Sustainability?
Events regarding sustainable

development in the 2000s
(Dresner 2008; UNFCCC 2014b)
Source: Shan Shan Hou, PhD thesis, 2014
9
Why Sustainability?
10
Why Sustainability?
§ Key works highlighted environmental concern:

§ From the 1960s to the present, there have been a number
of publications supporting the notion that current (and
historic) human activities are affecting the environment,
and that these changes are affecting all species on the
planet, including humans.

11
Yasmine Soudi
§ Concept of Sustainable Development:
§ 1st International recognition at 1972 UN Conference on the Human

Environment, Stockholm:
• ‘Poverty was the worst form of pollution’
• The international community agreed to the notion –
“both development and the environment”,
• Establishing of the United Nations Environment Programme,
which encourages countries to develop environmental
policies and agencies.
§ In 1974, the concept of sustainability akin to what we now know in

response to worrying about the environment when many suffer
from poverty and deprivation.
12
Yasmine Soudi
§ 1987 report: Our Common Future - Brundtland Commission/

(The World Commission on Environment and Development ): an
organisation independent of the UN to focus on environmental and
developmental problems and solutions.
§ Responsibilities:
• to investigate numerous concerns raised in previous
decades:
• that human activity was having severe & negative impacts on
the planet,
• that patterns of growth & development would be
unsustainable if they continued unchecked.
13
Yasmine Soudi
§ 1987 report: Our Common Future - Brundtland Commission.
Sustainable Development defined:

‘Development that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their
own needs.’

14
Yasmine Soudi
§ Sustainable Development Concept formed the basis of the

1992 UN Conference on Environment & Development (the
Earth Summit), Rio de Janeiro.
• 1st international attempt to draw up action plans and

strategies for Sustainable Development (SD).
• major world leaders recognise Sustainable Development

(SD) as one of the major international challenges.

15
Yasmine Soudi
§ The World Summit on SD, Johannesburg, 2002:
• 3 key outcomes:
• A political declaration.
• The Johannesburg Plan of Implementation.
• A range of partnership initiatives.
• Key commitments:
• sustainable consumption and production.
• water & sanitation.
• energy.

16
Yasmine Soudi
§ United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development,

Rio+20
• Political outcome document

• Sustainable Development Goals
• Guidelines on green economy principles
• 10-yr framework on sustainable consumption & production
• Forward thinking decisions on thematic areas

17
Yasmine Soudi

01.1 Historical Background

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

01.1 Historical Background

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

01.1 Historical Background

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Sustainable Architecture & Energy

• The built environment is the humanitarian-made space in

• The built environment is a term used to describe the

Sustainable Architecture & Energy _ M.Arch

Sustainable Architecture & Energy _ M.Arch

Environmental: Society/ social:

• Climate Change • Poverty and inequality

‘’Sustainability is far more than just environmental issues. It also

•Equity mainly between people

‘’Equity is about fairness – concern about sustainability must be

Sustainable Architecture & Energy _ M.Arch

Events regarding global

Source: Shan Shan Hou, PhD thesis, 2014

Events regarding sustainable

Source: Shan Shan Hou, PhD thesis, 2014

§ Key works highlighted environmental concern:

Sustainable Architecture & Energy _ M.Arch

§ Concept of Sustainable Development:

§ 1st International recognition at 1972 UN Conference on the Human

§ In 1974, the concept of sustainability akin to what we now know in

§ 1987 report: Our Common Future - Brundtland Commission/

§ 1987 report: Our Common Future - Brundtland Commission.

Sustainable Development defined:

Sustainable Architecture & Energy _ M.Arch

§ Sustainable Development Concept formed the basis of the

• 1st international attempt to draw up action plans and

• major world leaders recognise Sustainable Development

Sustainable Architecture & Energy _ M.Arch

§ The World Summit on SD, Johannesburg, 2002:

Sustainable Architecture & Energy _ M.Arch

§ United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development,

• Political outcome document

Sustainable Architecture & Energy _ M.Arch

You might also like