Sustainability and

Engineering Profession
(CON4433)
Lecture 1 Sustainable
Development

VTC 2013

Lecture Aim:

Introduce the concept of sustainable

development as defined by:

Environmental sustainability
Economic sustainability
Social sustainability
Cultural sustainability

Think about it
Development

Hong Kong in the 1950s

What happen?
Hong Kong today

Think about it

Did the development is necessary?

Gain or Lost ?

Solution

The development process could balance and

integrate the economic, environmental and
social demand.

Evolution of Sustainable
Development - In 1972:

The Limits to Growth: a report for the Club of

Romes project on the predicament of
mankind
The United Nations Conference on the
Human Environment
Put environmental issues onto the
international political agenda.

Evolution of Sustainable
Development In 1980

IUCN published the World Conservation

Strategy
the concept of environmental protection and
examine the relationship between the
environment and development.

Evolution of Sustainable
Development - In 1987

Our Common Future report was released by

United Nations,

It defined sustainable development as development that

meets the needs of the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own needs
(WCED, 1987: 43).
A new approach in integrating economic, social and
environmental objectives in the decision-making and
development process.

Definition of Sustainability

In physical terms:

Its rates of use of nature resources do

not exceed their rates of generation;
its rates of use of nonrenewable
resources do not exceed the rate at
which sustainable renewable
substitutes are developed;
its rate of pollution emission do not
exceed the assimilative capacity of the
environment.
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Definition of Sustainability

In social term:

the material living standard is adequate and

secure for everyone

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Definition of Sustainable
Development under HK-BEAM

Sustainable development is defined as:

balancing the fulfillment of human needs;

the protection of the natural environment ;
met not only in the present, but in the indefinite
future.

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sustainable development can be

conceptually broken into four
constituent parts:

environmental sustainability,
economic sustainability,
social sustainability and
cultural sustainability

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Scheme of sustainable
development:

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Green/sustainable building design is

one that achieves high performance:

Minimizing natural resource consumption;

Minimizing emissions;
Minimizing discharge of solid waste and liquid
effluents;
Minimal negative impacts on site ecosystems;
Maximum quality of indoor environment.

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The Our Common Future report

offered five key concepts:

The demand of the present generation should not sacrifice the

needs of the future;

Humanitys economic future is linked to the integrity of the natural

systems;

The present is not sustainable as the needs of the poor cannot

be met in many aspects;

Economic prospects of poor countries should be improved if we

want to improve our environment;

The present generation should provide options for the future

generation as they also have the right to choose and determine
their own needs;
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Sustainable City with balanced

social, economic and
environmental development

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Definition of Sustainable
Development from Council for
Sustainable Development

The concept of sustainable development was

first applied to environmental policy of Hong
Kong during the late 1980s.
The term sustainable development was first
mentioned officially in policy formulation in
the 1999 Policy Address delivered by the
former Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa.

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Three main concepts from

Policy Address:

Finding ways to increase prosperity and improve the

quality of life while reducing overall pollution and
waste;
Meeting our own needs and aspirations without
doing damage to the prospects of future generations;
and
Reducing the environmental burden we put on our
neighbours and helping to preserve common
resources

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In SUSDEV 21 Study:

sustainable development in Hong Kong

balances social, economic and environmental
needs, both for present and future generations,
simultaneously achieving a vibrant economy,
social progress and better environmental quality,
locally, nationally and internationally, through
the efforts of the community and the
Government.

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Timeline for Sustainable

Development in Hong Kong
1970's

1980's

1990's

2000's

1976-Country Parks
Ordinance

1989-The 1989 White Paper

on Pollution in Hong
Kong A Time to Act

1991-The First Review of

Progress on the 1989 White
Paper

2000-Establishment of the Joint Working

Group on Sustainable Development
and Environmental Protection

1993-The Second Review of

Progress on the 1989 White
Paper

2000-Completion of SUSDEV 21 and

Computer Aided Sustainability
Evaluation Tool (CASET)

1994-Chinas Agenda 21

2001-Establishment of the Sustainable

Development Unit (SDU)

1996-The Third Review of

Progress on the 1989 White
Paper

2002-Johannesburg Summit, the first time

the HKSAR Government sent an
official delegation to participate

1997-Commissioning of the Study

on Sustainable Development
in Hong Kong for the 21st
Century (SUSDEV 21)

2003-Establishment of the Council for

Sustainable Development

1998-The Fourth Review of

Progress on the 1989 White
Paper

2003-Establishment of the Hong Kong

Peoples Council for Sustainable
Development (PCSD)

1998-Establishment of Hong
Kong Sustainable
Development Forum
(HKSDF)

2004-Hong Kong Declaration on

Sustainable Development for Cities

1999-The Chief Executives 1999

Policy Address

2005-A First Sustainable Development

Strategy for Hong Kong

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A First Sustainable Development

Strategy for Hong Kong 2005

Three areas were identified for achieving the

stated vision:

Solid waste management A community effort for

sustainability
Renewable energy Acting locally on a global
issue
Urban living space Creating a sustainable built
environment

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Guiding Principles for Sustainable

Development of HKSAR Government

Economy
Health and Hygiene
Natural Resources
Society and Social Infrastructure
Biodiversity
Leisure and Cultural Vibrancy
Environmental Quality
Mobility
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Conclusion

Source:
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http://www.moederdegans.be/sara/the_golden_egg/The_Golden_Egg_Fable.htm