Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 15.2
The three strands of sustainability
Economic
Zone of synergy
(sustainable outcomes)
Trade-off zone
Environment
Social
Over the years the Rio Earth Summits have prompted individual countries
to adopt different approaches to reflect their own specific priorities. In the UK, a
national
Strategy for Sustainable Development
was first introduced in 1994 and
subsequently revised in 2005. This continues to inform the UK approach and, at the
time of writing, the government's vision of a sustainable future is still based on the
principles that were set out in the 2005 (Defra) policy, namely:
•
prudent use of natural resources to secure sustainable consumption
and production
•
protection and enhancement of the natural environment
•
strong and stable economy to provide prosperity and opportunities for all
•
good governance based on sound scientific evidence.
These basic principles have a strong resonance with the three-part framework
adopted for this topic.
SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION
In several countries, construction has been identified as the first sector to require
specific attention in meeting the sustainable agenda. There are several reasons for
this 'accolade'. First, in sustainable development terms, construction is consistently
responsible for some of the most profound negative impacts. Examples of the
industry's use of large amounts of materials and resources, and its reputation as a
