113 Architecture questions - Is your city sustainable?
Is your city sustainable?
In order to answer this question, it is necessary to define criteria according to which sustainability can be measured/assessed. As the decisions with a long-term impact are part of a global agenda, there are accordingly guidelines and instructions for action at various levels.
The United Nations has set out 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that we should consider in order not to jeopardise our planet and our coexistence in the future. The goals include combating climate change, reasonable working conditions, education and preventing food waste.
The UN Habitat provides guidelines for the planning and design of living space. Specifically, it deals with topics such as compactness, inclusion, connections, resilience and integration and provides recommendations and planning guidelines.
In Austria, sustainability is enshrined in the constitution as a state objective as follows
"§ 1. the Republic of Austria (federal, state and local governments) is committed to the principle of sustainability in the use of natural resources in order to ensure the best possible quality of life for future generations."
The central challenges and approaches are described in the ÖSTRAT (Austrian Strategy for Sustainable Development).
The City of Vienna has the Smart Climate City Strategy and the urban development plans as its objectives. The defined criteria are energy supply, mobility and transport, buildings, economy and work, zero waste and circular economy, adaptation to climate change, urban ecology, environment and water, health and social inclusion, education, science and research, digitalisation and participation, engagement and culture. To realise these goals, Local Agenda 21 Vienna, for example, offers a broad platform for the participation of numerous projects.
Your city depends on as many people as possible getting actively involved and participating in sustainable design. Cities rely on the creativity and experience of individual residents to achieve the goals they have set themselves. The sustainability of a city depends to a large extent on individual commitment.
