Our homes and old towns will be uninhabitable by 2050, warn the architects Sébastien Clément and Emmanuel Mille, and the philosopher Thierry Paquot, who argue for an "intelligent rehabilitation" of existing buildings in an article on Le Monde website. For a heritage policy consistent with the climate emergency June 2020 was the warmest month … Continue reading Arguing for “intelligent rehabilitation” of existing buildings
Category: Sustainable development
Record 53.6 million tonnes of e-waste dumped globally last year, says UN report
A record 54m tonnes of “e-waste” was generated worldwide in 2019, up 21% in five years. Worryingly, just 17.4% of the world's discarded electronics was recycled. Damian Carrington discusses the report in an article on The Guardian website. Surely these trends are not sustainable. What are your views? $10bn of precious metals dumped each … Continue reading Record 53.6 million tonnes of e-waste dumped globally last year, says UN report
The challenge for architects to integrate all design requirements including improving energy performance but also coping now with the 100-year viral pandemic
We have developed complex codes, regulations and guidelines to achieve goals such as structural safety, fire safety, adequate ventilation and energy efficiency, and to anticipate extreme scenarios such as 100-year floods. The question for architects now is whether and how the 100-year viral pandemic will change architectural design and building operations. This is the challenge … Continue reading The challenge for architects to integrate all design requirements including improving energy performance but also coping now with the 100-year viral pandemic
UK government’s plans for sustainable “garden communities” likely to create 200,000 car-dependent families
A study into 20 proposed developments suggests transport links and local amenities are poor with communities requiring expanded road systems. This hardly seems sustainable. Tom Bawden explains in an article on the inews website. Garden community projects could create 200,000 car-dependent families, study suggests A flagship project to build more than 50 green housing … Continue reading UK government’s plans for sustainable “garden communities” likely to create 200,000 car-dependent families
The environmental benefits of using timber in the construction of tall buildings are compelling
Three years ago, the fire at the Grenfell Tower in London led to the deaths of 72 and the disruption of lives of many more. A ban on constructing with timber is one of the more misguided responses to Grenfell according to Rowan Moore in an article on The Guardian website. What are your views? … Continue reading The environmental benefits of using timber in the construction of tall buildings are compelling
Green groups outline their priorities to make Europe’s industry a global leader
As Europe prepares to embrace a new industrial revolution in the aftermath of the covid-19 crisis, green groups have outlined their priorities to make Europe’s industry a global leader. A clean and responsible industry must be Europe’s answer to the covid-19 crisis, a group of NGOs said in a report published this week. Transform … Continue reading Green groups outline their priorities to make Europe’s industry a global leader
New report identifies 10 key pillars that are considered essential to the effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) recently published a news item about a new report related to monitoring implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Progressing National SDGs Implementation: An Independent Assessment of the Voluntary National Review Reports Submitted to the United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in 2019 Key Messages Countries … Continue reading New report identifies 10 key pillars that are considered essential to the effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
New EEA report analyses ‘drivers of change’ providing insights on their impacts on EU sustainability ambitions
A wide variety of rapid and long-term societal developments in Europe and globally have important effects on the environment in Europe. A European Environment Agency (EEA) report, published this week, analyses these ‘drivers of change’, providing insights on their impacts on EU sustainability ambitions. Complex network of European and global developments impacts sustainability The … Continue reading New EEA report analyses ‘drivers of change’ providing insights on their impacts on EU sustainability ambitions
British climate activists stuck in Kosovo because of the coronavirus pandemic, having refused evacuation flight back home
The coronavirus crisis is affecting all of us in different ways. Visar Kryeziu writes for The Associated Press on the National Newswatch website about one couple who are stuck in Kosovo because of refusing to get on an evacuation flight. What would you have done? UK climate activists stranded in historic town in Kosovo … Continue reading British climate activists stuck in Kosovo because of the coronavirus pandemic, having refused evacuation flight back home
Discussing “The Uninhabitable Earth” by David Wallace-Wells
EiD doesn’t know whether you have read this book yet. If not, you should. It really looks at what the future will look like if we do not make drastic changes to life. This is particularly important now as we try to get through the coronavirus crisis and then have to more seriously address climate … Continue reading Discussing “The Uninhabitable Earth” by David Wallace-Wells
