Essay on Critical Commentary on Urban Sustainability

Introduction Since the late 1980s, the notion of ‘sustainable development’ has transcended beyond the eminent United Nations report titled Our Common Future, to mainstream dialogue throughout the globe at all scales within government and public spheres. This form of development seeks to balance current environmental, social and economic needs of the population, â€Å"without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs† (World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987, 43). Used interchangeably with ‘sustainability’ (Seghezzo, 2009), the concept has been fastened to a plethora of themes, including that of cities where ‘urban sustainability’ speaks to negligent urban expansion and resource depletion. However, as†¦show more content†¦As the wordplay in Satterthwaite’s title suggests, the various interpretations of ‘sustainable’ and ‘development’ will dictate a city’s action s, due to the strategic selection of what is being sustained in a sustainable city. For instance, Satterthwaite (1997) suggests that a sustainable city may be construed in an entirely social manner, leading to the sustaining –or rather preservation – of existing social structures within the city. Consequentially, the achievement of the United Nation’s ‘sustainable development’ is compromised, since the economic and environmental aspects are left out of the scenario (Satterthwaite, 1997). This example also exposes the anthropocentrism embedded in ‘sustainability’, as human needs are often emphasized over environmental concerns. However, in this context, the oppression of nature is to be expected since ‘sustainable development’ is ultimately a Western construct designed for human benefit and because of this, will never remedy the ecological crisis society has created (Seghezzo, 2009). A city contributing to sustainable development invokes a different set of actions according to Satterthwaite (1997), as this compels populations to make tangible changes in consumer behaviour or government structure, which consequentially fosters harmonization between social, economic and environmental goals. This understanding supposedly leaves less room for interpretation, as the city’s actions are to follow a set ofShow MoreRelatedConceptual Gardening : An Architectural Style Of Gardening1663 Words   |  7 Pagesdefining the identity of a city, for they have the ability to break down conceptual boundaries and hold significant meaning when used to their fullest potential.1 With traditional garden design, there is a heavier emphasis on nature and environmental sustainability as seen through the usage of foliage and stones as primary building materials. Over time however, a new approach towards gardening has been developed; one that allows for this medium to break free of it s conventional restraints. This is attributedRead MoreAccessible Personal Movement Of Central Urban Environment2380 Words   |  10 PagesAccessible Personal Movement in Central Auckland Setting The Scene: Identifying the how accessible the central urban environment in Auckland is during daylight hours and how it affects people, and also what people are most disadvantaged. There are many ways people are affected by this either it is done by how auto-dominant the area is or how people are affected by this problem. The route that was taken for this assignment was Silo Park to Aotea Square. The way people use vehicles and areRead MoreCase Study4595 Words   |  19 Pagesbenefits. She should hint the competitive advantage of offering hourly service and promote her website so investors can find out more about Zipcar and potentially aid her business. She should state why Boston was an ideal location (parking, population, urban city, college-educated, and web connected). Lastly, she should state any additional progress, sales, customer retention, and angel investors before her plea for financial assistance from investors. 1. How would you characterize the service that ZipcarRead MoreChapter 9 Review: Biodiversity and the Ecosystem 2619 Words   |  11 Pages2010). It is sad to me that this vital earth resource is valued so little by the world population. This forest is so vital to the well being of the entire earth. It has always amazed me that maintaining it is not a higher priority than it is. Critical thinking question # 5 wants to know if developed countries should provide the most money to preserve rain forests in developing countries. I think this is a difficult call to make. I think every country should take care of their own resources andRead MoreCase: Chester Wayne Essay18738 Words   |  75 PagesGlobal Sustainability Eastman Kodak Company 2010 Annual Report TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Report Scope 3 Leadership Message 6 Company Profile 10 Goals 12 Performance Data 14 Compliance 15 Sustainability Framework 21 Governance 26 Innovation 31 Stewardship 41 Engagement 50 External Recognition 51 About the Photographs SCOPE OF REPORT SCOPE OF REPORT Kodak is pleased to present our fifth annual Global Sustainability Report, as well as our 21st public report to include health, safety and environmentalRead MoreContributions of Management6175 Words   |  25 Pagesmajor contributions that management theory has made to the field of emergency management. It discusses some of the major management concepts including the role of the manager, strategic planning, systems theory and contingency theory, which are critical to the practice of emergency management. The overlap between management theory and disasters may be seen in concepts associated with crisis management and the importance of values, diversity, and legal issues to both management theory and emergencyRead MoreEducational drama in education8389 Words   |  34 Pagesskills to find out about and explore environmental issues; †¢ civic skills to influence decision†making in society; †¢ researching and communicating information about one s own environment; †¢ improving one s own environment: acting responsibly; and †¢ critical reflection on the quality of environmental developments. Educators are challenged to find interesting and meaningful ways of helping young people to develop the knowledge, skills and values they will need to become actively involved in building aRead MoreThe Impact of Agricultural Sector on Economic Growth in Nigeria18675 Words   |  75 Pagesthe agricultural economy and in relation to the overall economy. By â€Å"crossroads’, I mean the decision junctures in the agricultural development policy landscape that are underpinned by tough choices, most often involving critical trade-offs. Understanding these complexes is critical to promoting informed and educated dialogue about policy responses for inclusive and sustainable agricultural growth and economic prosperity. Mr. Vice Chancellor, Distinguished Colleagues, Lions and Lionesses, Ladies andRead MoreChina in Africa Essay20116 Words   |  81 Pagesagriculture and the World Bank: development or impoverishment? Atakilte Beyene 5 8 Property rights formalisation in Africa Tor A. Benjaminsen Espen Sjaastad the relationship between inequality and climate change Kjell Havnevik commentAries intervieW 11 14 decoding the evolving china–Africa relations Fantu Cheru martha Qorro on the language of instruction issue in tanzania Lennart Wohlgemuth 18 reseArch Jerome verdier on the liberian trc Proscovia Svà ¤rd 21 Read MoreThe Business Case for Corporate Social Responsibility: a Review of Concepts, Research and Practice15551 Words   |  63 Pagesresearch and practice that have come to characterize this developing idea. Over the decades, the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) has continued to grow in importance and signiï ¬ cance. It has been the subject of considerable debate, commentary, theory building and research. In spite of the ongoing deliberations as to what it means and what it embraces, it has developed and evolved in both academic as well as practitioner communities worldwide. The idea that business enterprises have some