Seminar - Carol Boyle - Long Term Thinking for Sustainability

Wednesday, April 13, 2005, 1.10 - 1.50 pm
Peter Nichol Russell Lecture Theatre

Abstract

Although sustainability is now a common term, there has been little agreement about how it can be achieved. Most measures, such as triple bottom line reporting, do not measure sustainability at all. This research focuses on the long term nature of human society which, for sustainability, requires that we take a 1000 year perspective of development. For such a perspective, the local geology, hydrology, climate, soil and other physical factors comprise a framework which sets limitations on development that can occur without incurring significant risk to human society, such as water shortages. This presentation will outline the parameters which must be considered and present a case study showing the initial assessment of a greenfield development for sustainability.