Conclusions
The built environment as a whole has a substantial environmental impact that could deliver significant impacts on mitigating climate change . However , as a sector , what do we believe ? And , do we collectively , have the strength of belief to deliver the changes needed to make an impact ? There is a spectrum of thought within the paradigm of sustainability , ranging from Transpersonal , Deep and Moderate Ecology falling within an Ecocentric school of thought . Their worldview is contrasted to an Anthropocentric / Technocentric worldview , which embraces Accommodating Environmentalism and Cornucopian Environmentalism . The key issues are discussed in the literature review and summarised in table 1 . The danger is , that we think we are all talking the same language , with the same understanding of issues and solutions . This is clearly not the case and to be expected to some extent , however the consequences are potentially dire , and we need to understand our different standpoints more objectively . The consequence of not having this deeper conceptual understanding is that opportunities for effective action will be missed . This research explored the conceptual understanding within a small sample of built environment professions . In answer to the question ( a ) what is the conceptual understanding of sustainability within built environment professionals , it is shown that there is a broad spectrum of views expressed from Ecocentrism to Anthropocentric / Technocentrism that need to be acknowledged and taken into account , where possible and relevant . The issues are complex , and as the result show , there is little consistency and awareness of conceptual understanding amongst built environment professionals . Within the grouping academics were found to adopt views that lead to strong sustainability . Whist some would argue that this position reflects a disconnect between the real world and the ivory towers of academia , we can see it also as ‘ a call to arms ’, as the opportunity to educate and inform the conceptual understanding of future generations of built environment professionals rests in our hands . Firstly though , we must inform ourselves of this discourse , and of the different philosophical positions within the spectrum of sustainability for a deeper and more fully informed conceptual understanding . The second question asked ( b ), what is the implication of this level of conceptual understanding with regards to delivering sustainability ? The implications are clear ; inaction and indecision are not sufficient , weak levels of action are also inadequate . It is clear that the degree of ‘ sustainability ’ embedded within some concepts , those of Cornucopian Environmentalism particularly are weak and very questionable . As a sector we need to engage in this debate explicitly and consciously . After all , the planet depends on it .
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72 ZEMCH 2015 | International Conference | Bari - Lecce , Italy