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From the
Editor-in-Chief
by Fred Moavenzadeh
Sustainable development or sustainability is generally defined as a
constraint on present consumption to ensure that future generations will
inherit a resource base no less than the previous generation inherited. In
meeting this goal, sustainability is concerned with two types of limits the
environment imposes on growth or development - source limits and sink
limits. Source limits refer to the environment's finite capacity to provide
resources - renewable, nonrenewable, mere production inputs, and essential,
nonsubstitutable "natural" services. Sink limits refer to the environment's
capacity to assimilate the wastes caused by economic growth and development.
On the global level, sustainability is concerned with intergenerational
equity, cross-boundary pollution, and environmental issues like climate
change, ozone depletion, and the loss of biodiversity. On the national
level, sustainability is a resource management and pollution control
problem.
Although definitions of sustainability vary, there are some important common
themes, such as placing a greater value on the environment, being concerned
with both inter-and intragenerational equity, recognizing linkages between
countries, finding synergies between the environment, development and
business, and emphasizing efficiency and technological improvements.
Sustainability requires that we place greater value on the environment. The
environment is important for economic growth as well as for improved quality
of life. Some argue that since the emphasis in the past was on economic
growth, the environment has been undervalued, and must of the overuse of the
environment results from the environment not being properly valued.
In order to manage the environment is a sustainable way, all the various
benefits of the environment must be accounted for. Sustainable development
thus requires finding new ways to value the environment, account for the
stock of natural assets, and incorporate in prices the cost of actions
detrimental to the environment.
One important aspect of the sustainability paradigm is the focus on
synergies between the environment and business. Some have argued that this
mindset is just the business-as-usual "growth is good" model repackaged.
However, for sustainable development not to be an oxymoron it must mean
finding synergies between development, business, consumption, and the
environment.
Many businesses have argued that good business in not contrary to
sustainable development. There are a number of reasons why firms are finding
that good environment means good business. The waste that firms produce
reflects inefficiency. Reducing wastes can mean earning profits by lowering
material and cleanup costs. Many believe that more and more companies are
realizing that the pollution they produce is a sign of inefficiency, and
that waste reflects raw materials not sold in final products. Firms can
anticipate more regulations, so it is in their best interest to make
pollution control decisions based on economics, before regulations control
their processes.
Also, growing environmental concern among consumers means that positive
environmental performance is essential to attain product loyalty. Consumers
now have many different "environmental seals of approval" to look for. The
most important one, ISO 14000, is finding a sympathetic reception from all
lines of business.
Construction in particular has a unique role to play in sustainable
development. On the one hand, being concerned with sustainable construction
is both money saving and environmentally sound. On the other hand, assisting
businesses to become less polluting and more considerate of the environment
is an excellent business to be in.
Many construction entities are looking at the environment as a profitable,
socially responsible market opportunity.
We welcome your views on this and all issues critical to the business of
construction.
Fred Moavenzadeh
Chairman, Editorial Advisory Board of CBR
Director, Henry L. Pierce Engineering Laboratory
Civil & Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
© Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.
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