In a predominately urban world that constantly has to deal with complex problems such as waste generation, water scarcity, natural disasters, air pollution, and even the spread of disease, it is impossible to ignore the impact of human activity on the environment. Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time and it is urgent that we find ways to slow down the process, at the very least.
How can personal desires for freedom of travel and mobility be reconciled more successfully with our shared expectations for sustainable development? What alternatives are there today? We reached out to meet with those who are inventing tomorrow’s solutions today.
We believe that if we are to improve life in the world, we must build cities that are more breathable, and therefore healthier, and which provide a better quality of life for everyone. Achieving that requires us to take concerted action to combat pollution - including inside our homes - reduce our carbon emissions, and conserve and expand pockets of the natural world. We wanted to discuss these issues with some of those who are working to deliver such a transformation.
Building a more sustainable world means consuming fewer resources, and companies have a fundamental role to play in this collective effort. That means changing the way we design, manufacture and distribute our products and solutions, whether in terms of production (Industry 4.0, data, etc.), the way we use and recycle materials, or how we protect the environment around our production facilities. This overview looks at some solutions that are beginning to make a difference.
How can companies today express solidarity with local communities and NGOs in practical ways? What forms can this commitment take at grassroots level? To find out, we visited India, South Africa and USA.
“Housing is a major challenge, because it is the point of entry for economic, social and cultural inclusion. It must be intrinsically sustainable, which means it must be constructed in such a way as to provide stability and dependable living conditions for the long term. This is a crucial issue, especially for migrants, because access to proper housing is a precondition for their effective integration. So at UN-Habitat, we see the challenge as not only building housing units, but also building the cities of tomorrow for resilient communities in order to provide a better life for everyone. This
The campaign is already paying off, since every Member State must now submit a long-term national renovation strategy for the transformation of its housing stock between now and 2050, with milestone targets for 2030 and 2040. National implementation of this European policy is proving rather slow, with only 13 countries having prepared their strategies to date, but at least we are moving in the right direction.
On 26th January 2017, together with Weber Malaysia, Gyproc Malaysia organised a technical presentation and practical demonstration to 22 architects from the Public Works Department (JKR) at our Training Academy here in Port Klang.