9
Deep sustainability
10
as defined by Alexander can be considered to be in contrast with the general
understanding and current practice of sustainability (Alexander, 2004). In the general context of sustainability, along with the principles of the triple bottom line, the environment is seen as capital; in
essence, in the decision- making process the key decision is how to maintain a stable pool of resources
in the future for human benefits (O’Riordan, 2009). We can figuratively envision this standard discourse of sustainability as the branches and leaves of trees, the ‘green’ that we can see. In contrast,
‘deep sustainability’ is the roots of the tree that connect the whole ecological system together,
described by Alexander as a whole integrated system of patterns illustrated in Fig. 1.5. This underground network of a complex ecosystem, connecting millions of species of fungi and bacteria as they
swap nutrients between soil and the roots of the trees, forms a vast interconnected web (Popkin, 2019).
The standard and superficial context of sustainability (for that is what we can see) has now relocated into the wider context of the social response to climate change and global warming. Although
sustainability was supposed to contribute to the classical green concerns by reinforcing environmental
awareness, the climate change discourse operates on a different level, exposing the flaws of the traditional green approach of sustainability—or of sustainable development and design, for that matter.
This raises the question of what we can do about the inevitable impacts of climate and environmental
changes we are facing, and the relationship sustainable design and development has with this issue.
Climate change is imposing a pragmatic turn on our approach to sustainability, and in regard to this
narrative I investigate further the fundamentals that we need to pursue to be able to regenerate our
environment, interconnect more with ecosystems, and adapt our human and natural environments for
a resilient future. The discourse of this book is thus going far beyond the understanding and current
practice of sustainability and sustainable development, seeking a regenerative-adaptive pattern language approach that considers the whole.
10 Deep sustainability goes beyond the mere aspects of resource efficiency, energy reduction or sustainable growth; it
requires the emotional, spiritual and cultural connections of people with their built and natural environment. Deep sustainability addresses the ‘ends’, rather than the means to an end (Alexander, 2004, p. 6).
Fig. 1.4 Sustainable development goals. (By the United Nations, November 2019, public domain)
1.5 Sustainability, Ecological Systems, and Climate Change
Deep sustainability
10
as defined by Alexander can be considered to be in contrast with the general
understanding and current practice of sustainability (Alexander, 2004). In the general context of sustainability, along with the principles of the triple bottom line, the environment is seen as capital; in
essence, in the decision- making process the key decision is how to maintain a stable pool of resources
in the future for human benefits (O’Riordan, 2009). We can figuratively envision this standard discourse of sustainability as the branches and leaves of trees, the ‘green’ that we can see. In contrast,
‘deep sustainability’ is the roots of the tree that connect the whole ecological system together,
described by Alexander as a whole integrated system of patterns illustrated in Fig. 1.5. This underground network of a complex ecosystem, connecting millions of species of fungi and bacteria as they
swap nutrients between soil and the roots of the trees, forms a vast interconnected web (Popkin, 2019).
The standard and superficial context of sustainability (for that is what we can see) has now relocated into the wider context of the social response to climate change and global warming. Although
sustainability was supposed to contribute to the classical green concerns by reinforcing environmental
awareness, the climate change discourse operates on a different level, exposing the flaws of the traditional green approach of sustainability—or of sustainable development and design, for that matter.
This raises the question of what we can do about the inevitable impacts of climate and environmental
changes we are facing, and the relationship sustainable design and development has with this issue.
Climate change is imposing a pragmatic turn on our approach to sustainability, and in regard to this
narrative I investigate further the fundamentals that we need to pursue to be able to regenerate our
environment, interconnect more with ecosystems, and adapt our human and natural environments for
a resilient future. The discourse of this book is thus going far beyond the understanding and current
practice of sustainability and sustainable development, seeking a regenerative-adaptive pattern language approach that considers the whole.
10 Deep sustainability goes beyond the mere aspects of resource efficiency, energy reduction or sustainable growth; it
requires the emotional, spiritual and cultural connections of people with their built and natural environment. Deep sustainability addresses the ‘ends’, rather than the means to an end (Alexander, 2004, p. 6).
Fig. 1.4 Sustainable development goals. (By the United Nations, November 2019, public domain)
1.5 Sustainability, Ecological Systems, and Climate Change