Regionalism and sustainable development: genesis of SB04

A series of regional conferences to promote sustainable building were held in 2004-05. These events were designed to augment a cycle of international conferences and a prevailing international approach to sustainable building. The intent was to raise awareness, exchange information on region-specific topics, identify research and practical needs, discuss capacity building, and, most importantly, elevate the needs and concerns of a regional approach to the international community.     

Exploring sustainable construction: implications from Latin America

The outcomes and implications from the regional Latin America and the Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Building (SB04) are considered in conjunction with the current regional context. To understand the development of a Latin American approach to sustainable development in the property and construction sector, it is necessary to include the unique economic, social and natural problems faced by most of its countries. This unique context differentiates it from other regions and includes poverty reduction, maintaining economic growth, enhancing income distribution and coping with the unplanned growth of cities. The importance of a regional approach is highlighted and an overview provided on how sustainability relates to context specificities. Courses of action are suggested for major actors to accelerate progress towards sustainable building and construction implementation, including the development of new regional capabilities and networks, education and training, appropriate financial mechanisms and public policies, the use of appropriate technologies, and the development of appropriate metrics and assessment mechanisms to reflect local and regional needs.     

Action for sustainability: preparing an African plan for sustainable building and construction

Sustainable development, and by extension sustainable building, is an evolving concept that relies for its implementation on the development of regional and local approaches and solutions. There is, in particular, a split between the definitions, approaches and priorities in developed and developing countries. Subsequently, a process for creating an international agenda for sustainable building is needed to recognize these regional and local differences. Part of this process is the development of regional action plans for sustainable building and construction at a number of regional sustainable building conferences. The key elements of an action plan for Africa, based on a discussion session at the SB04 Africa Conference, are considered and placed within the African context and the larger international issues. The key issue is the establishment of a solid knowledge foundation for Africa that will equip the public, professionals, development agencies and governments with accurate and relevant knowledge generated within the framework of the continent's social needs, its cultures and its biophysical environment to guide their decisions and actions towards establishing a sustainable built environment.