Sustainable Development - Essay Example

1 Sustainable Development The most frequently quoted definition for sustained development is from the Brundtland Report which describes the phenomena as: "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". (Brundtland) Each farmer seeks a high yield from his crop and in today's world he is prone to use a number of fertilizers as well as pesticides or crop inducing substances to guarantee a higher and healthier yield. It is possible for a farmer to produce a high yield for years and not be cognizant that the inducers he is using to produce his bumper crop have also been gradually destroying the soil, as well as causing problems in the lakes and streams adjacent to his fields. I chose the farmer as an example because it is with food and water which we must be primarily concerned for sustanance. And because much of the third world have agriculture based economies. If the farmer is allowed to maximize his harvest by utilizing high yield fertilizers which erode and sap the oxygen from the soil, he ultimately makes this land unsuitable for similar use in the future. Also when the runoff of his high yield fertilizers and pesticides seep into the adjacent streams; he threatens the lives and livelihoods of others. The water becomes contaminated and threatens the aquatic life, and because of levels of contamination, it cannot be used to water crops or consumed by humans. Whatever we do here, has consequences, and we must individually and collectively strive to assure that the consequences are mitigated by positive actions. In an article written on the Principles of Sustained Development, the author emphatically 2 stresses the scope and purpose of sustained development, he says: Sustained development focuses on improving the quality of life for all of earth's citizens without increasing the use of natural resources beyond the capacity of the environment to supply them indefinitely. It requires an understanding that inaction has consequences and that we must find innovative ways to change institutional structures and influence individual behavior. It is about taking action, changing policy and practice at all levels, from the individual to the international. (Principle) This attitude has led to a number of world conclaves assembled around the concept of sustained development. The latest of which was the Earth Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2002. This summit has been heralded as a participatory and contributing success, and the attendees brought to bear the local, regional and national concerns. These concerns were aired in a series of roundtables from 26 August thru 4 September 2002. The participants were determined to make this summit a productive event and produce items of substance which they could take back home with them and continue the works they commenced in Johannesburg. Recognizing that whether they were citizens of a developed country, or small developing state, the need for coordinated efforts were essential. Merely to sit and exchange dialogue on the ills of the earth and simply codify those dilemmas, take them back home and have them collect dust until the next vision or summit, was no longer an option. These delegates recognized the need for the establishment and functioning of regional partnerships, which will feed off of and into each other concerning the local, regional, national and international technologies and 3 resources. Thus, enabling continued communication flows and information resource sharing which will sustain the linkages formed during the summit. Moreover, these communication flows, technology and resource connections will enable smaller governments and NGO's to have access to scientific, financial, or other forms of resources and data, which under previous conditions and circumstances would either be costly or unknown to them. Along with the levels and types of participation, contributions, and cooperation Which the delegates cited in all four roundtables as being necessary from the various segments of society, the problem areas of water, sanitation, energy, health, agriculture, biodiversity, education, (particularly for women and girls), along with the eradication of poverty, were themes which struck a cord in each of the four-roundtable discussions. These themes are particularly relevant and present a direct challenge to the construction industry. Water is a critical entity, and each occasion a construction contractor begins to make plans for any type of project which involves the realm of activities inherent of the construction process, he must bring all things to bear and decide how the issue of water; its preservation, retention, run-off, and minimum impact contamination, will effect and influence the construction phases. Moreover, how it will impact the site and its surroundings in the post construction phase. The basic concept of construction is that one will make the site suitable for the purpose specified by the owner, and assure that it is a better place post construction. The delegates at the summit were aware of the fact that we are waging a battle against ourselves to preserve this life sustaining substance; we contaminate it, we wastefully use it, and the culprit of these 4 evils which we commit against water, is that we individually and collectively take it for granted. We must all enter the war against contamination and waste. When members of the professional construction industry take a responsible lead to protect our limited water supply, they can provide invaluable examples and information to the general public on conservation, sanitation and waste. The issue of sanitation is obviously not a big problem in developing countries, but it is a source of unhealthy consequences in many of the developing countries, where construction is often piece-meal and individualistically constructed. Contractors in this part of the world must begin to think of long term linkages, which pertain to future habitat development. Infrastructure must be fitted to serve the maximum legally allowable density. In other words, third world contractors and planners must begin to initiate a broad based comprehensive approach to planning and placement. With proper and adequate placement, the quality of life is enhanced and the susceptibility to health hazards are lessened considerably. It is basically a common sense move and should not be sacrificed for the sake of expediency or expenditure. The matter of energy is also of major relevance for the construction and development industry, because as in the case of water, we must plan for the worst and hope for the best. Contractors must begin to construct more energy efficient buildings; which means the promotion of green buildings, as well as an emphasis on reusable energy sources. The delegates at the summit did not establish a time table on the implementation of energy conservation and reusable energy sources, as it did for all of the other areas of stated concern Whether this was a result of the fact that reusable energy 5 as an area of concern was approached for the first time at a summit, or whether the delegates felt they did not have an adequate working knowledge of the specific needs, which would enable them to set a target date, is not known. Nevertheless, In my minds eye, this endeavor will probably be an industry led initiative. To this end, NAHB and LEED are promoting green building and as this energy saving initiative evolves, it is bound to permeate the entire spectrum of the construction and development industry. The issue of health is of particular importance to the construction and development industry because so many people can be affected by their day to day work patterns. If they are not responsible and careful, their activities can represent serious hazards to the environment and its inhabitants. They must be vigilant to preserve the air quality at the site, both for its workers and the community at large. The building must be constructed using non-hazardous materials which do not present long term deleterious affects (such as asbestos, lead paint etc.,) on health. Again, one can not emphasize too much, the importance of the water and how the contractor must be the short term preserver for the long term good. The reality of large construction jobs today, often dictates that the contractor must employ immigrant workers to compliment his laborers. This addition has prompted many concerns regarding the off work hours activities of these individuals with regard to sexually transmitted diseases, drug and alcohol use. The socio-economic issue surrounding the introduction of these persons into the community-at-large, places a responsibility on the construction industry to be more aware of the health status of its employees. It is advisable that the construction industry establish health programs to assure and monitor their employees' short and long-term health status. 6 The issue of agriculture and its relevance to the construction industry is a far reaching and serious concern. The push in today's world is resulting in mass changes in land use patterns. Some of this change is prompted by economics, and some of it is fueled by the desire of people to have more green space in their lives. As a consequence, many city dwellers and companies are purchasing property in the country side on which they construct homes and businesses. Adjacent and in close proximity to some of these sites being converted to residential or commercial use, we can often find farms. There may be livestock, as well as crop planting. In either scenario, the water, air and foliage quality, is important to the livelihood of the farmer and his investments. The construction industry must work in harmony with the environment to protect and preserve the pristine environment which will enable the variances in the environmental contrast to cohabitate side by side. The biodiversity of a site has an enormous impact on the construction industry and development due to the obvious incompatibility of the pending encroachment. Prior to actual construction, in most instances the contractor must clear the land. This usually entails the removal of vegetation, which has a direct negative impact on biodiversity. In the clearing of this site, the possibility of habitat removal is prevalent. Additionally, the creation of dust, which is a negative contributor to sustained biodiversity. The summit stressed the need for a renewed commitment towards biodiversity. Consequently it is encumbent upon members of the construction industry to conduct a comprehensive survey of the biodiversity which is directly on and adjacent to the site. The issue of education which the summit addressed has particular reference to 7 pedagogical training, However, with the increasing incidence of female headed households, who live in poverty, the construction industry could also be pivotal in assisting these women. In today's world, women are increasingly becoming involved in non-traditional occupations. The construction industry could make a contribution to lifting some of these women from the depths of poverty by proving them with training on construction sites, in jobs which do not have a "bona fide occupational qualification". Of course this would also address on of the primary concerns listed by the delegates concerning poverty eradication. The American construction industry contributes approximately 8 per cent to the US GDP. It is a multi-billon dollar industry which has a moral responsibility to do its share. Poverty cannot and will not be eradicated in the short term (and quite possibly never), however it is only right for those who are capable, to make contributions and facilitate the incremental advances. The summit (roundtables) placed great emphasis on the critical nature of developing an informed comprehensive broad based approach to decision making. Decisions affecting the earth's inhabitants and its resources should not and can no longer be made in a vacuum. In other words, all variables (internal and external) must be introduced into the equation so we are aware of the benefits and risks prior to making a decision. That we can sustain ourselves on this earth if we weigh the input against the out put, prior to implementation. Many considered the major outcome of the summit to be the Plan of Implementation, which addresses a global overview of the existing impediments to sustained development. The plan provides a detailed assessment of the problems and 8 issues and proposes representative strategies which the delegates perceived as viable, which would either dissipate or ameliorate the various dilemmas. The Plan of Implementation contains targets and time tables to spur action on a wide range of issues including, "halving the proportion of people who lack access to clean water or proper sanitation by 2015, reducing biodiversity loss by 2010, and by 2020, using and producing chemicals in ways that do not harm health and the environment". (Summit) Additionally, the summit also resulted in the establishment of more than 300 voluntary partnerships, each of them will bring additional resources to support efforts to implement sustainable development. Also for the first time the countries committed to increase the use of renewable energy with a sense of urgency, although a proposed target for this was not adopted. The Secretary General of the UN provided his stamp of approval to the efforts and accomplishments of the delegates, as he stated: "The summit represents a major leap forward in the development of partnerships, with the UN, governments, business and civil society coming together to increase the pool of resources to tackle global problems on a global scale"(Annan) The trend toward sustainable projects cuts across all construction segments, (residential, commercial, heavy/highway, industrial and institutional) and impacts all sectors (public and private) A number of cities have announced that all future government buildings will meet sustainability requirements as established by the Green Buildings Councils' Leadership in Energy and Environmental design (LEEDS) program. At the federal government level, the Navy and the Army Corps of 9 Engineers, as well as the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency has also mandated that all future buildings will be sustainable. (USGBC) Rosenberg stated during the proceedings of the Pittsburgh International conference and Expo, that the trend grows and reshapes the design process he said; "it is impacting the role of the contractor. Integrated design which is essential to the design of green building, necessitates the early involvement of all project consultants, including the contractor, in the design process"(Rosenberg) Riley says this new concept has influenced the developers to make tactical adjustments, he says: "For this reason a large number of owners are moving towards the use of design-build delivery systems in which construction organizations are highly involved during the design phase". (Riley) Rosenberg points out how beneficial the new concept proves to be for all concerned. He points out that: "contractors have access to cost data and other technical knowledge which can inform design team decisions". (Rosenberg) Chan feels this is a very positive occurrence, and represents a win, win situation for all of the actors, because the contractor now knows all aspects of the project. He points out the following: This interaction facilitates the constructive input of the contractor early in the project, significantly impacting the construct ability of the project, leading to increases in efficiencies on site such as reduced material waste, improved working environments for trades, and better indoor air quality for the finished building. This shift of project design and delivery method shifts the sole responsibility for the project to the contractor. (Chan) At the Greenbelt International Conference and Expo, C. Klehm points out the 10 LEED standards for green building he says: Green building is a comprehensive method to design and construct buildings in an environmentally sensitive manner. Sustainable green buildings typically employ integrated technologies that effect project choices in energy systems, building materials, site development, and project management methods. The LEED rating systems uses six categories to determine if a building is sustainable. Each section has a prerequisite that must be met as a minimum for LEED certification and points for going beyond those minimum requirements. There are a total of 69 possible points and a minimum of 26 points are required for LEED certification, It is up to the owner and design team, (of which the contractor is a member) to decide what level of certification they want to achieve. Out of the possible 69 points, the contractor is directly responsible for 20 points and can have a valuable input on another 21 points. (Klehm) According to the National association of Home Builders (NAHB) web site, NAHB membership has reached 215,000; one third of which are homebuilders and/or remodelers. NAHB membership as a whole represents approximately 8% of the US annual Gross Domestic Product. NAHB sponsors an annual conference focused on Green construction; the organization also publishes several documents addressing green construction. One in particular is a 24-page document to educate residential contractors about the importance of building environmentally sensitive houses. (NAHB) The environmental impacts of development projects are largely determined during the early phases of project planning, site selection and design. The sustainability of 11 a development project is affected by its interaction with and dependence on environmental resources. The projects impact on environmental resources, therefore, needs to be considered during project identification, formulation and implementation. It is important to identify and prevent environmental problems that could hamper achieving the projects objectives, cause delays, or result in unexpected expenditure. Early consideration of environmental issues will also help to ensure that development in one sector is not achieved at the expense of development in another. Consideration of environmental issues throughout the project cycle involves more than trying to avoid negative impacts. It will help to reveal opportunities for meeting environmental commitments under international conventions, and to enhance the environment for the project beneficiaries, thus achieving additional project benefits. (Klehm) One of the most important features of the global climate system is that it varies naturally on all time scales. Any climate change caused by human enhancing the greenhouse effect will take place on the top of the system which is already very variable. (US Climate) The National Weather Service observational measurements conclude that the global average near surface temperature "has increased about 0.5 degrees centigrade over the past 100 years". (NWS) The National Geological Survey reports that this observed warming trend is continuing despite the influence of the Mt. Pinatubo volcanic eruption, which caused volcanic emissions to reduce incoming solar radiation for nearly two years. Scientists 12 believe the likelihood of this global warming is due primarily to the incremental global warming caused by the exponentially increasing concentrations of anthropogenic ally introduced greenhouse gases over and above the greenhouse effect caused by naturally occurring greenhouse gases. Although there exist large uncertainties, scientists suggest that the emissions of greenhouse gases and sulfate aerosols could, by the end of the next century, lead to an increase in global mean temperature of about 1 -4 degree centigrade. (Encarta) After all is said and done of the negative affects of the greenhouse effect, it is important to note that the greenhouse effect is important. Without the greenhouse effect, the earth would not be warm enough for humans to live. But if the greenhouse effect becomes stronger, it could make the earth warmer than usual. The types of environmental impact variables which must be considered in a holistic approach to project planning and implementation are as follows: Air, Land Issues, Water; the nature, quality and location to the sight, Biodiversity, and Socio-economic issues. Will all have an impact on the project and the manner in which these variables are managed could spell success or failure of the project All of the environmental impact issues can be mitigated and a professional manager will follow these suggestions to achieve sustainable development. On construction sites one can keep the dust down by dampening down areas (such as site roads) keeping stockpiled materials in a secured and covered environment, and by planning the staging of earth moving activities around the dry season. To offset any 13 deleterious impact on the soil, which has been created by the contractor in preparing it to be developed. He must accept the fact that damage has been done and proceed to limit the movement of earth. It might even be necessary to implement some replanting and provide some sedimentation basins to capture the possible runoff. If the vehicles must be used, it would be prudent to create some specific traffic lanes, and it would be extremely beneficial if the vehicles have large tires. Of course this will further enable compaction. One must be particularly vigilant when it comes to the soil. Erosion is a physical process, which is induced by surface water run off and wind. When the site has been cleared, the circumstances are aggravated because with the removal of the vegetation, there is nothing left to bind the soil. Moreover, soil erosion can lead to desertification. To avoid water contamination it is always good to strip the ground in stages. In so doing you keep some of your earth/soil binders in place, and again sedimentation ponds are essential to capture the runoff water. Which will in all likelihood contain cement and other materials. One should create a protected area for all hazardous material One might even think in terms of oil/water separators for those areas where fuel is being stored and vehicles are used. In pursuing your biodiversity objectives, one must be cognizant that something lived there before you arrived. It would be wise to undertake a habitat survey before you commence construction. In seeking your biodiversity objectives, you can also preserve your soil binding efforts. One should regularly monitor all the species previously identified in your survey. You should also consult the appropriate authorities on your find. 14 This site albeit undeveloped prior to your arrival, could have had at least an amenity value to some or all of the residents adjacent or in reasonable proximity to it. This should be ascertained prior to commencing construction. It is hoped that all of the cultural, archaeological or historical elements will be addressed in the environmental impact assessment. It should be noted that even proposed activities that appear to be inconsequential, may uncover artifacts of cultural value if they involve earthworks, especially in previously unbuilt areas. (a few years ago in lower Manhattan, a construction crew was involved in excavation, and they came upon an African American graveyard in the heart of lower Manhattan) The company involved in the environmental assessment was not very keen in some areas and the result was they cost the developer a considerable amount of money. Local populations might need to be protected from construction impacts Potential mitigation factors could include the provision of a buffer zone around the construction site. Planning of construction sites and accommodation of service facilities should consider potential adverse affects on the local communities. Works Cited Annah, K., (2002), It Just A Beginning; sustainable Development Summit, Johannesburg, South Africa. [on line] available from; http://www.iisd.ca/wssd/international.html Chan, A., Do, D., and Tam, C. (2001 March/ April) Design and Build Project Success factors: Multivariate analysis. Journal of Construction Engineering, 127 (2), 93-99 Encarta on line encyclopedia Klehm, C., (2003) Value added general contracting for LEED rated projects: A method Proceedings of the Green Build International Conference and Expo, Pittsburgh, Pa. [on line] available from; www.asceditor.usm.edu/archives/2004/ NAHB [on line] Available from; www.NAHBrc.org/ Riley, Pexton, and Drilling Green build international conference and Expo, Pittsburgh, Pa. Sustainable trends In Construction, [on line] available from; www.ascreditor.usm.edu/archives/2004 Rosenberg, H., Merson, A. and Farkhauser, J. (2003) LEED and the general contractor, Proceedings of the Green build International Expo, Pittsburgh, Pa. USGB [on line] Available from; www.usgbc.org/chapters/ United States Geological Survey [on line] Available from; www.usgs.gov World Summit on Sustainable Development, Roundtable Agenda Item 11, Dist: Limited, Johannesburg, South Africa [on line] available from; www.johannesburgsummit.org/html/documents/summit_docs Read More