Doing more with less

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Speech of Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Patali Champika Ranawake The National Conference on Architecture - “Doing More with Less” 5th March at BMICH

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I found the theme of this conference, “Doing More with Less” is extremely important and timely in the context of the multiple global crises that we are facing today related to food, energy, fresh water and finance, and therefore, it is indeed a great pleasure for me to be with you. “Doing More with Less” within a circular economic system where output becomes input is the key for sustainable development across the globe.

As you may be aware, today, we are running at an ecological deficit, and the current global rate of extraction of natural resources is 25 per cent more than the replenishment rate. The global average ecological footprint is 2.2 global hectares per person as against the bio-capacity of 1.8.

The ecological footprint measures humanity’s demand on nature. “High income countries” accounts for an ecological footprint of 6.4 global ha/person as against the bio-capacity of 3.3, whereas the “Middle Income Countries” and ‘Low Income Countries” account for ecological footprints of 1.9 and 0.9 as against bio-capacities of 2.1 and 0.7 respectively.

Ecological footprint

Sri Lanka has an ecological footprint of one global ha/person whereas our bio-capacity is 0.4. Therefore we Sri Lankans too are running at an ecological deficit of 150 per cent! Our country’s situation is worse than the global situation.

The present multiple crises provide us ample evidences of the ill effects of the unsustainable economic development strategies followed by the industrialized countries in the 20th century for the sake of human development.

The result of the present crises is becoming in fact the worst global economic recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s which led to the World War II. IMF has already warned that all the economies of developed countries may contract in 2009 leading to social and political explosion.

It is clear that we have to adjust our economic activities within a two limiting factors in order to attain a sustainable economic growth.

One limiting factor is the “Scarcity of resources” and the other is “Pollution” arising out of the unlimited waste generation including emissions. All of us especially, the policy-makers, Architects and Engineers should understand the gravity of this problem, the root causes and the possible environmental devastations that would occur in future ruining the natural balance of the ecosystem which in turn would lead ruining the human existence in this planet. It is clear that the root cause of the problem is unsustainable consumption and production of the humankind.

Most economists are now concerned whether the current financial credit crunch could lead to an ecological crunch or an environmental crisis in the absence of long term solutions linking to sustainability.

Financial crisis and economic recession could be reversed over time. However the ecological crises are irreversible in nature and if there are environmental catastrophes, each civilization in the world would be severely affected. It may be considered as the end of the human civilization on this planet.

In the early stages of human civilization, it was possible to change the civilization region or zone to a nearby region or a zone whenever environmental problems arose.

Globalization

The construction industry and its allied professionals-the Architects and Engineers have an important role to play with the policymakers to create a “Low carbon-Green Built Environment” functioning in harmony with the natural ecosystem.

However, in the present context, the process of globalization has tightly integrated all civilizations through trade and financial flows and the decisions taken in one country on their economic development have remarkable impacts on the entire world economy and thereby on the entire world community.

At the same time, it is a known fact that ecosystems of the world are inextricably interlinked and economic recessions would lead to ecological recessions if timely action is not taken to reverse the trends of unsustainable development by the entire world community.

We have to understand that short term rescue plans and temporary measures ignoring the ecological sustainability will not solve the present crises.

Even the short term solutions should lead to long term sustainable solutions based on Green Economic principles leading to a “Green Economy”. Green Economy is about sustainable consumption as well as production.

Human health, wellbeing and livelihood are inextricably interlinked with the biological and physical properties and processes and functional ecosystems.

The construction industry and its allied professionals-the Architects and Engineers have an important role to play with the policymakers to create a “Low carbon-Green Built Environment” functioning in harmony with the natural ecosystem. Without a healthy environment, there can be no social and economic development.

We need to form green cities with green infrastructure minimizing the carbon footprints moving away from the carbon dependency economy.

Present trends

It is important to note that the carbon budget for the century identified by the United Nations to avoid catastrophic environmental disaster to humans is in the range of 50:50 probability which will expire in 2030 if the present trends continue.

Therefore we must use a wider framework - a combination of architectural styles of different schools of thought to suit our climatic conditions and cultural practices within a green development paradigm, self sustained with a green culture.

In this context my memories go back to the principles followed by our world famous leading architect, Geoffrey Bawa with his remarkable designs based on the Monsoon Architecture. Also, we can learn lessons from our ancient architecture in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa and use these with suitable modifications if necessary to suit the present condition.

Maintenance

A significant portion of investments for economic development should be set apart in the design of green architecture which would eventually avoid the massive costs of expenditure that the country would otherwise have to bear for the maintenance of energy and material intensive systems.

In this context, it is necessary to develop new models of green architecture: green buildings, green villages, green cities with guidelines, building codes and other related codes of practices that would evolve the ancient architecture with appropriate modifications to resolve the present crisis.

This Green Architecture should lead to sustainable production and consumption practices of the entire community of the country.

The recent initiative taken by the Government of Sri Lanka to establish a National Sustainable Development Council with the leadership of the President under the Haritha Lanka Program clearly goes hand-in-hand with the governance structure necessary to integrate green economy needs into the existing development processes at national level.