Sustainability

Question 1

What is sustainable development?

Answer 1

Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

Question 2

What are the government’s sustainability goals?

Answer 2

Net-zero by 2050
50% carbon reduction by 2030 (when compared to 2020)

Question 3

What affects the social pillar of sustainability?

Answer 3

• Education
• Combat social exclusion and discrimination – aid the global population, reduce the gender inequality, promote diversity, introduce training and open dialogues.
• Promote solidarity – using responsibly sourced materials (i.e. fair trade, no reliance on slavery), collaborating with local and international associations
• Contribute to the well-being of stakeholders – ensuring our work does not cause undue disruption to the local inhabitants, transparency and exchange of information, inclusive access arrangements (e.g. BS 8300 accessible & inclusive built environment)

Question 4

What affects the environmental pillar of sustainability?

Answer 4

• Reducing and assessing carbon footprint
• Responsible use of natural resources
• Management of waste
• Reducing energy consumption
• Reduce water scarcity

Question 5

What affects the economic pillar of sustainability?

Answer 5

• Balancing profits with ethics
• Job creation and stability
• A circular economy (recycling, refurbishing old buildings, slowing the “urban sprawl”)
• Responsible investing (ESG, environmental, social and corporate governance, investments i.e. not investing in oil companies)

Question 6

Which UNSDG’s are environmental?

Answer 6

• 6 – Clean water and sanitation
• 13 – Climate action
• 14 – Life below water
• 15 – Life on land

Question 7

Which UNSDG’s are social?

Answer 7

• 1 – No poverty
• 2 – Zero hunger
• 3 – Good health and well-being
• 4 – Quality education
• 5 – Gender equality
• 7 – Affordable and clean energy
• 11 – Sustainable cities and communities
• 16 – Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Question 8

Which UNSDG’s are economic?

Answer 8

• 8 – Decent work and economic growth
• 9 – Industry, innovation, and infrastructure
• 10 – Reduced inequalities
• 12 – Responsible consumption and production

Question 9

Discuss goal 3 – Good health and well-being

Answer 9

• Reduce deaths and illnesses in the construction industry
• Reduce deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals, pollution and contamination
• Substantially increase health financing and recruitment, development, training

Question 10

Discuss goal 4 – Quality education & 5 – Gender equality

Answer 10

• Equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university
• Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership

Question 11

Discuss goal 12 – Responsible consumption and production

Answer 11

• Achieve sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources
• Achieve environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil
• Reduce waste generation through PREVENTION, REUSE, RECYCLE, RECOVERY (hierarchy)
• Companies to adopt sustainable practices and integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle

Question 12

Discuss goal 13 – Climate action

Answer 12

• Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries
• Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning
• Improve education and awareness on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction

Question 13

Discuss goal 14 – Life below water & 15 – Life on land

Answer 13

• Prevent marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities
• Ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of ecosystems and their services
• Reduce the degradation of natural habitats and halt the loss of biodiversity
• Increase financial resources to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity and ecosystems

Question 14

What is the PAS 2080 carbon reduction hierarchy?

Answer 14

• Build nothing
• Build less
• Build clever – use low carbon solutions, reduce resource consumption during construction and use (specifying low carbon concrete)
• Build efficiently – implement construction and operational techniques that reduce resource consumption (i.e. hydrogen in construction / maintenance vehicles)

Question 15

What is the PAS 2080 Carbon management process?

Answer 15

• Plan – target setting and baselines
• Do – implement
• Check – check processes are being implemented (project reviews, MPCMs, etc)
• Act & Review – implement outcomes
• Share and improve – record and disseminate information, use it in planning stage
• REPEAT