Code for Sustainable Development Cracking the Code Wednesday

‘Code for Sustainable Development – Cracking the Code” Wednesday 14 th March 07 “Ecology” and the built environment Professor Dr Michael Benfield Ph. D University of Wales Newport + Benfield ATT www. benfieldatt. co. uk Prof. B@benfieldatt. co. uk 01291 437 050 “…the sustainable way to build …”

Overview ‘Ecology’ – the 15 minute ‘Expert’ Definition Background – Trees as a proxy Implications - Human Ecology Sustainability – Triple Bottom Line Regulating for Ecology – economic, social, environmental “…the sustainable way to build …”

Definition of ‘Ecology’ oekologie - coined 1866 by German biologist - Ernst Haeckel - Greek οικος (oikos, "household") + λόγος (logos, "study") - So, "ecology" = “the study of natures household” Scientific study - distribution + abundance of living orgs + how their interactions with environment affect these • Organism’s environment = all physical abiotic factors e. g. insolation (sunlight), climate, and geology AND all other organisms sharing its habitat Although "ecology" often used for environmentalism and “ecologic" or "ecological" often = env. friendly. Actually = the complex interaction of everything on earth Humankind = just 1 interacting organism "The Earth has an abundance of everything, but our share in it is only what we really need. “ Sir David Attenborough “…the sustainable way to build …”

Trees as a proxy for these interactions Life on earth evolved in the oceans Land plants 460 m yrs ago – trees 370 m (fern) Paved way for animals – O 2, CO 2 Roots break up soil – diversity > bugs (plant eaters) > mammals 100, 000 tree species today – 8, 000 threatened Trees vital to world health - ecosystems - biodiversity - economics Key forest functions - climate regulation - nutrient cycling + distribution - raw materials and resources - cleanse air + provide oxygen - water retention in soil - shield animals / plants from sun / elements - habitats & beauty “…the sustainable way to build …”

Forests … Dinosaurs 140 m yrs after trees appeared All Earth's oxygen produced by plant photosynthesis (CO 2 +H 2 O = glucose + O 2) Only 1. 6 acres of forests / person living (FAO 2000) 15, 000 forest plants /animals = foods, medicines, etc. (EIA) Costa Rica – birds nests leaves, roots, berries 50 -90% of terrestrial species. Tropical forests over 50% - 10 -50 m species (EIA) Rainforests cover 2% Earth's surface / 6% land mass Technically, deforestation only when land totally converted to other use Natural Tree anti-freeze chemicals = -400 F in some species. Each tree absorbs ave. 10 lbs pollutants p. a. from air inc 4 lbs ozone 3 lbs particulates (Friends of Trees) 3 trees planted around ave home can aircon bills 50% Wind shield trees heating bills 30% (EIA) American High Bush Cranberry “…the sustainable way to build …”

Human Ecology Relationships between human, natural, social and created environments Human Ecology investigates human interactions with nature & environment All flora & fauna interdependent to evolve, grow, become healthy Some must die out to allow others to live and evolve - Dinosaurs –v- Forests -v- Humans Since Ind. Rev. - exorbitant demand for land inhabited by trees. Health & technology unparalleled population growth Demands for Earth’s resources exponentially 1990 – 2000 lost 2% world's forest - 10 m ha – not recovered Developing nations worst EXCEPT China - 1. 2% p. a. forest area "The whole sustainability world is thinking about tradeoffs. What will humans give up to have something else and still keep the environmental goods and services we need? “ Emily Mathews, World Resources Institute, Washington DC “Can we be smarter about development in the future? ” Healthy cities - to ensure ecological, economic + social sustainability need Tree canopy coverage 40% ave. Rural area goal = min 50% American Forests Planting trees = cost-effective way to capitalize on healthy ecosystem services “…the sustainable way to build …”

Ecological / Environmental Sustainability the triple bottom line Triple Bottom Line sustainability - economic > growth? - social > education / communities - environmental > consumption Interactions of all of these PLUS the natural world why? how? equity? - for other humans - for flora and fauna - for GAIA herself Global Eco. Village Gaia hypothesis – controversial ecological theory network Named after the Greek earth Goddess (Prof. James Lovelock) Proposes that: - living and nonliving parts of the earth are a complex interacting system - thought of as a single organism - promotes life overall - all living things have a regulatory effect on the Earth's environment “…the sustainable way to build …”

Regulating for Ecology Economic Sustainability • Whose economy? - local? (centre decline, compact city) - regional? (megalopolis/city regions) - national? (N. S. E. W. divide? - international? (economic migration) • Whose generation? - present? - children / grandchildren? - 7 generations? • What economic activities? - manufacturing? - service? - agriculture, forestry, fishing? - construction? - research? - tourism? “…the sustainable way to build …”

Regulating for Ecology Social Sustainability • Whose society? - local? - regional? - national? - international? - children / grandchildren? • Which generation? - present? - 7 generations? • What culture? - education? - employment level? - leisure & sport? - retirement? “…the sustainable way to build …”

Regulating for Ecology Environmental Sustainability? Carbon Dioxide - energy – embodied, in use, maintenance, decommissioning, demolition, removal - energy – provision, efficiency, reliability, cost - recycling – selection, disassembly, reuse - manufacture – methods, handle-ability, transportation Renewable – can you harvest it? Site selection – location, transport, mobility, facilities, - amenities, - impacts Design - architectural – practical and aesthetics - planning – linkages, orientation, surroundings - engineering - structural - waste – off-site and on-site - project management – site layouts, provisions, logistics, etc. “…the sustainable way to build …”

Summary & Conclusions Ecology = complex interaction of everything>> humans as only 1 organism Trees as Proxy for interactions = Evolution, CO 2, O 2 >> climate change Vital Importance of Forests >> habitats, atmosphere >> home benefits Human Ecology >> population growth, resources, ‘tradeoffs’, die off ? >> Healthy Cities Tree Cover Trees needed for healthy ecosystems Triple Bottom Line = Economy, Society, Environment >> who, what, when Regulating for Ecology >> economic sustainability >> human settlements & migration >> social sustainability >> whose society? which generation? what culture? >> environmental sustainability >> energy, renewables, site selection, design -v- “…the sustainable way to build …”

Finally, if you really want to “Crack the Code” you need to ask yourself a final, thought provoking question How Green is Your Organisation? “…the sustainable way to build …”