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SUSTAINABILITY:
Sustainability is a term which many have become familiar with over the past few decades. However the complexities and the multi-facetted character of this concept is not clear in the minds of many. The term ‘sustainability’ is abstract; it means capable of being maintained over the long term. Its derivative ‘sustain’ means ‘to keep in existence; keep going; to carry the weight or burden of; to bear up against’. This term is mainly used and understood today in its relation to the natural environment and emergency efficiency. Environmental groups and many individuals have a high level of awareness as to the importance of protecting the natural environment and our eco-system. On the other hand planning authorities and politicians are compelled to provide policies in order to achieve measurable results and meet specific targets to meet the challenges facing our environment. For obvious reasons, ‘sustainability’ issues tend to be hijacked by politicians and activist groups around the globe. As Sustainability is a multi-facetted concept, limiting its application to the impact on the natural environment can prove to be wrong and misleading. A sustainable development must simultaneously respond to three aspects of sustainability. These being; 1. Environmental: It is agreed that a development needs to achieve a degree of energy efficiency. This relates to its interaction with the natural environment, degree of consumption and dependence on non renewable energy, energy rating, recycling, maintenance, etc. It is acknowledged and agreed that a degree of efficiency is required, however, the criteria and measure of energy is still a point of disagreement between the different groups and furthermore varies from country to country.