Sustainability Commission
The Sustainability Commission (SC) examines sustainability through an architectural lens, elucidating its alignment with the broader United Nations framework while emphasising culture and a contextual approach. We regard culture as an evolving concept that informs resilient, context-aware design, illustrating how tradition enriches the contemporary.
Rethinking Sustainability: Contextual and Transitional Approaches to Design underscores a core principle of our work: the integration of wisdom of tradition into contemporary architecture to address modern challenges.
Through interviews with renowned architects and interdisciplinary experts, we cultivate dialogue that bridges global sustainability challenges with diverse architectural practices, fostering a profound connection between people and their context. In doing so, we shape a future where culture and sustainability are intrinsically interwoven within the built environment.
See: The human dimension at the heart of the scientific sustainable approach
Participation in International Events
📍 Buenos Aires, Argentina | 📅 6 June 2024 | 🎤 Speaker: Carlos Zeballos
Event: Urban Thinkers Campus on Land-Based Finance
Panel Discussion: Integrating Land-Based Finance into Urban Policy for the New Urban Agenda
Key Highlights:
- Focus on land-based finance (LBF) strategies for disaster risk reduction and urban resilience.
- Exploration of funding mechanisms:
- Land Value Capture
- Tax Increment Financing
- Public-Private Partnerships
- Presentation of case studies showcasing effective LBF integration in urban planning.
- Best practices for incorporating LBF into planning frameworks:
- Strong legal and regulatory structures
- Emphasis on community engagement
- Commitment to transparency
Impact:
- Highlighted the importance of aligning disaster risk management with sustainable urban development.
- Stressed the need for LBF strategies to support vulnerable populations and promote long-term resilience.
📍 Baku, Azerbaijan | 📅 17–22 November 2024 | 🎤 UIA Delegates: Emna Bchir, Gaetan Siew, Iman Gawad
The UIA:
- Reaffirmed its commitment to leveraging architecture as a transformative force in climate action.
- Advocated for cross-regional, interdisciplinary, and intercultural collaborations.
- Emphasised architecture’s role in decarbonisation, resilience, and sustainable urban development.
Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (Global ABC)
Session: The Sufficiency Revolution: Ensuring a Just Transition through Indigenous Wisdom, Resilience and Human Rights
📅 19 November 2024 | 🏛️ Buildings and Cooling Pavilion
Launch of the Sufficiency Report
Key Focus:
- Integration of Indigenous knowledge into community-centred, low-impact design.
- Promotion of sufficiency — using just enough resources for sustainable living.
- Addressed global challenges:
- Climate change
- Social inequalities
- Economic pressures
- Advocated for human rights as a guiding principle in equitable and inclusive design.
Emna Bchir’s Presentation: Revitalising Local Culture and Addressing Contemporary Challenges
- Use of local resources and traditional wisdom for sustainable architecture.
- Promotion of passive ventilation and local climate-responsive solutions.
- Challenges and potential of vernacular architecture as a climate solution.
Watch the session | Learn More
UNIDO: Smart Cities for a Resilient Tomorrow
Session: Integrating Technology for Sustainable Urban Growth
📅 20 November 2024 | 🏛️ UNIDO Pavilion
Key Topics:
- Strategies for sustainable urban growth through smart city technologies.
- Focus on feasibility and financing for developing countries.
- Case studies from Mauritius, Tunisia, Turkey, Kazakhstan, and Madagascar.
- Emphasis on the human element in smart city planning—people over technology.
Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA)
Session: Low-Carbon Cement and Concrete Definitions
📅 18 November 2024 | 🏛️ GCCA Pavilion
Key Takeaways:
- Launch of international definitions for low-carbon cement and concrete.
- Opened by the German Vice-Chancellor and Minister, highlighting the importance of low-carbon public procurement.
- Explored strategies for decarbonising the cement and concrete sectors.
- Aimed to establish a global reference for green cement and concrete.