The materials used by the global economy have quadrupled since 1970

While we have realised we cannot continue to increase our consumption of energy, the same is true for all the materials we use. Damian Carrington writes in The Guardian about the unsustainable growth in materials. EiD is reminded of the report, Come On!, written by the Club of Rome. We are doing more about resource … Continue reading The materials used by the global economy have quadrupled since 1970 →

The benefits of green roofs

Michael Hardman and Nick Davies at the University of Salford write on The Conversation website about installing green roofs. However, for these roofs to become the norm, there must be a buy-in from public authorities and private actors. What are your views? Green roofs can vastly improve city life, so why don’t we see … Continue reading The benefits of green roofs →

New report from the European Environment Agency identifies ten focus areas for enabling sustainability transitions

There is growing recognition that achieving prosperity within environmental limits requires fundamental changes in core systems of production and consumption. A new European Environment Agency (EEA) report, published recently, identifies ten focus areas for enabling sustainability transitions. How to accelerate change towards sustainability? The EEA report ‘Sustainability transitions: policy and practice’ identifies policy options … Continue reading New report from the European Environment Agency identifies ten focus areas for enabling sustainability transitions →

‘Secret sustainability’ is on the rise in the business world

‘Secret sustainability’ is on the rise, with companies loath to talk about their ecological credentials. Cassandra Coburn writes in The Observer to explain why. Why industry is going green on the quiet There’s a factory in Asia that uses only a single litre of water to make a pair of jeans. That’s 346 litres … Continue reading ‘Secret sustainability’ is on the rise in the business world →

The Netherlands is home to one of the most sustainable industrial buildings

Michael Cowan writes on the BBC website about an industrial building in The Netherlands that is considered one of the world’s most sustainable. The building was discussed on a popular BBC programme to see what lessons Britain could learn from this development. What are your views? Is this the world's most sustainable building? Climbing … Continue reading The Netherlands is home to one of the most sustainable industrial buildings →

Ensure sustainable travel will require state intervention and employers making adjustments

Choosing the train over the plane costs more in time and money. That’s where the state and employers can step in, explains Michael Segalov in an article on The Guardian website. People want to travel more sustainably. But we need help to do it It’s almost funny – the start of a comedian’s dark, … Continue reading Ensure sustainable travel will require state intervention and employers making adjustments →

“Sustainability” becoming standard practice for architects

Tom Dennis writes on the Prairie Business website about the changing environment for architects. Do you see the same developments in your country? On beyond energy efficiency: For architects, ‘sustainability’ now means so much more GRAND FORKS – Jim Galloway agrees: “In architecture these days, there are fads, there are trends and there are … Continue reading “Sustainability” becoming standard practice for architects →

Canada’s financial community has yet to fully grasp the numerous challenges and opportunities that climate change presents in the transition to a low-carbon economy

As all countries try to find the right way forward in the low-carbon energy transition, it is useful to read what is happening in Canada. Sean Cleary and Ryan Riordan of Queen’s University write on The Conversation website about some of the opportunities being missed by the financial sector. Do you have similar issues in … Continue reading Canada’s financial community has yet to fully grasp the numerous challenges and opportunities that climate change presents in the transition to a low-carbon economy →

da Vinci sensitive to environmental concerns

As we seek to improve our society’s sustainability, it is good to reflect on how our environment was viewed by others in the past. Susan Broomhall and Andrea Gaynor from the University of Western Australia revisit the views of Leonardo da Vinci. EiD readers should enjoy this. Leonardo da Vinci revisited: was he an … Continue reading da Vinci sensitive to environmental concerns →

New World Bank report discusses policies to achieve sustainable infrastructure

The SDG Knowledge Hub of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides a review by Delia Paul of a new report from the World Bank on sustainable infrastructure. World Bank Finds Efficiency and Quality of Spending Key to Sustainable Infrastructure A World Bank report presents policy mixes that could enable low- and middle-income … Continue reading New World Bank report discusses policies to achieve sustainable infrastructure →