GABS commits the building and land industry to "actively promote the adoption of policies and practices to accelerate the …goal of sustainable development", to "closing the gap between policy and practice" and to regularly report on progress. With more than half of all carbon emissions coming from the built environment, delegates recognised the crucial role of building professionals in halting the climate crisis. For every CIBSE member, the summit and the GABS charter is a wake-up call. We need to look to the architects, surveyors and others with whom we work, to pursue the common objective of 'building sustainability'.
The original Rio Earth Summit was convened to seek action on climate change plus a very wide range of other issues picked up in the Agenda 21 agreement. The Johannesburg Rio plus10 WSSD was nowhere near as focused, and its already broad agenda of poverty, development, trade and environment was further hijacked for diverse political purposes. In contrast, the GABS building sustainability conference sought to focus on those issues on which it was actually able to deliver. Climate change mitigation heads those issues although, as delegates from third world nations pointed-out, that is neither their responsibility nor their main aim. Their more immediate concerns were food, water, sanitation and monstrous debts.
As a consequence of the GABS declaration, a broad section of the property and construction industries is now signed-up to a commitment to actively pursue sustainability in the built and natural environments. And that means every funding agency, every developer, surveyor, architect, engineer, contractor, facilities manager, property accountant, lawyer, academic and government agent of the built environment. So much for the final declaration but how did we get there and what is the reality of GABS in a country like South Africa?
Two days of overcrowded conferencing and four days of informal networking and politicking led up to the GABS charter. Its content, understandably, wasn't lightly agreed upon and much of the final afternoon was given over to scrutiny of its every word, spelling and punctuation. Several delegates were unable to accept more strongly drafted wording, which committed the industry to definite objectives. At least it gave delegates some appreciation of the difficulties of politicians in the main UN conference across town.
Our conference was joined by six ministers from various countries including, Sankie Mthembi-Mahanyele South African housing minister and a breathless address from UK minister Michael Meacher. As usual he arrived brim-full of facts, figures and aspirations, before, already late, he had to dash back to a crucial stage in the summit negotiations. A principle objective of GABS is to close the gap between policy and practice and we know that we have more work to do in the UK.
The most contentious issues concerned the measuring of performance benchmarks, the setting of action targets and monitoring to report progress. These are quite fundamental to the action plan and it's important that the intent of the clauses as written are fully appreciated and duly enacted. Ultimately, performance benchmarks, action targets, and monitoring and reporting of progress are a commitment of all Alliance members.
GABS already represents more than a million members worldwide and that should give it some clout when offering advice or consulting with governments and other agencies. The extent of the undertaking came out in discussions. More than 110 million people earn their living from construction related industries and every job in construction leads to two more elsewhere. Meanwhile every day 180 000 more people move into cities which is putting severe stress on urban services from housing and sewage to policing and transport.
It is evident that the general public readily believes and repeats press and media comments, that the WSSD is all an utter waste of time and money. However it would be a great shame for that to be the overall conclusion because it is only from the formal and informal face-to-face meetings, the talking and listening, that progress towards solutions can ever properly take-off. This was clearly the case in Johannesburg, where the broadest canvas of humankind could be seen in intense conversation in conference halls, at restaurant and bar tables, or simply standing in groups watching the main action on giant screens.
An understanding of the problems that face the summit, specifically over north-south inequities, came from a visit to the Soweto township of Johannesburg. Some three and a half million people reside in what our local guide described as: "the good, the bad and the ugly" in districts that sit cheek-by-jowl. The good would grace Guildford or Solihull, while across a road and a ditch, the bad, unknown in UK, has workers living in single sex barracks with one water standpipe, a chemical toilet and no electricity. Then to the ugly where rows of shacks with asbestos or iron roofs, tiny windows and no facilities, cover the dusty landscape. Here you would expect to find animosity, yet, if it did once exist, it has now gone, replaced with the aspiration and ambition that has been released by freedom and enabled by land reform and a policy of inclusivity.
It was a chastening experience to walk with Eric our well-educated guide – "filling in whilst looking forward to a good job soon" – showing us his neighbourhood. We were invited into a small crèche classroom and also someone's home with its single room divided with a curtain between sleeping and living. Cooking took place on paraffin stoves and a coal/wood oven, and lighting came from oil lamps. Despite the undoubted poverty, the sparkle of opportunity was bright in people's eyes. It was chastening to see such a shining example of the indomitable spirit of mankind and a clear belief that these problems will eventually be solved.
Throughout the summit visit it became increasingly evident that South Africa is fast emerging as a model for sustainable democracy and far removed from the image of less than a decade ago. Previous social housing schemes had provided rows of rented rectangular, pitched-roof, two family bungalows divided into A and B sides.
These homes with small gardens, have now, subject to previous length of tenure, been given to the tenants including ownership of the land. Already the owners are making astonishing alterations and extensions. At present these often occur, as income allows, on one side alone yet this is apparently without ill-feeling, raising as it does the status of the area and bringing the potential that one day soon everyone can match their neighbours successes.
In exhibitions around the summit, low-cost eco-homes designed by PEER-Africa are being adopted. Requiring little or no heating due to passive solar and efficiency techniques, these efforts show that sustainability is not just a rich persons preserve. Inspirational! House building and upgrading is mostly done by women. In the past, the men of the household were always the tenants or owners. Now women have been given positive discrimination to own the property via low interest loans. This is a truly giant step change in African society.
In contrast to the main summit declaration where governmental commitments are short on action, and corporate promises somewhat hollow, our own conference made big strides towards securing a sustainable future.
Clearly it's now up to us to each work within our own sphere of influence and focus on our specific points of action. That way the course of our civilisation can indeed be altered for good. For CIBSE, carbon is our particular focal point: 'Climate change mitigation' by cutting carbon emissions from the built environment, should be our mission and contribution to the GABS and WSSD.
Although the Johannesburg gathering arose from an initiative of the RICS Foundation supported, initially, by UK Institutions, it finally mirrored the WSSD and represented a complete mix of our civilisation across the world. Accountants, lawyers, surveyors, architects, planners and engineers were all present. CIBSE was represented by 10 delegates from member firms; Faber-Maunsell, Arup, Hoare Lea, Fulcrum and from BRE, BSRIA and CIBSE.
We in the UK can build on GABS as we have our own building sustainability conference being arranged for Edinburgh a year from now. As a joint CIBSE/ ASHRAE/REHVA international conference, it will be a chance to see the best practice around the world in action and also showcase what sustainability really means in the UK.
The full text of the GABS charter is available on the CIBSE website: www.cibse.org
Source
Building Sustainable Design
Postscript
Terry Wyatt is CIBSE President Elect, and head of research and development with Hoare Lea Consulting Engineers. He is also chairman of CIBSE's Carbon Group.
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