The World Congress of Architects adopted the “Decaration of Interdependence for a Sustainable Future” in June, 1993. “In recognition that : – A sustainable society restores, preserves, and enhances nature and culture for the benefit of all life, present and future; a diverse and healthy environment is intrinsically valuable and essential to a healthy society; today’s society is seriously degrading the environment and is not sustainable; – We are ecologically interdependent with the whole natural environment; we are socially, culturally, and economically interdependent with all of humanity; sustainability, in the context of this interdependence, requires partnership, equity, and balance among all parties; – Buildings and the built environment play a major role in the human impact on the natural environment and on the quality of life; sustainable design integrates consideration of resource and energy efficiency, healthy buildings and materials, ecologically and socially sensitive land-use, and an aesthetic sensitivity that inspires, affirms, and ennobles; sustainable design can significantly reduce adverse human impacts on the natural environment while simultaneously improving quality of life and economic well being; We commit ourselves, as members of the world’s architectural and building-design professions, individually and through our professional organisations, to: – Place environmental and social sustainability at the core of our practices and professional responsibilities – Develop and continually improve practices, procedures, products, curricula, services, and standards that will enable the implementation of sustainable design – Educate our fellow professionals, the building industry, clients, students, and the general public about the critical importance and substantial opportunities of sustainable design – Establish policies, regulations, and practices in government and business that ensure sustainable design becomes normal practice – Bring all existing and future elements of the built environment – in their design, production, use, and eventual reuse – up to sustainable design standards.” The link below contains the full text of this declaration along with Guidelines for Further Development of the Declaration.
weblink: declaration and guidelines • from: Architectural Institute of BC • in detail XlnkS582 XlnkC189B
Monthly Archives: March 2003
Call for Letter of Interest on Climate Change and Water Resources
Please find a call for Letters of Interest on Climate Change and Water Resources for the Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Program through the website link below. The deadline is April 30, 2003. For more information please contact: Beth Lavender Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Directorate/Direction des impacts et de l’adaptation liés au changement climatique Natural Resources Canada/Ressources naturelles Canada 601 Booth Street/601 rue Booth Ottawa ON K1A 0E8 phone: (613) 992-1755 fax: (613) 992-0190 email: BLavende@NRCan.gc.ca website: www.adaptation.nrcan.gc.ca
weblink: nrcan website- LOI Description • from: NRCan – Natural Resource Canada • in detail XlnkS581 XlnkC180A
USGBC Vancouver Branch Presentation: Green Buildings in BC
Follow the link below to view the presentation given at the March 12, 2003 meeting of the USGBC Vancouver Branch. The presentation details the background and current status of the adaptation of the LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) building rating system to B.C. An overview of green building in B.C. is provided along with current initiatives by the provincial government, the GVRD and the City of Vancouver.
weblink: link to presentation • from: USGBC Vancouver Branch • in detail • see also: US Green Building Council XlnkS580 XlnkC1849
Nobel Prize for Sustainable Development?
Nobel Prize for Sustainable Development: Members of Parliament from the Netherlands and the UK, along with a Congressman from the US have started an initiative to create a Nobel Prize for Sustainable Development. A letter will be sent to the Nobel Foundation in the Spring of 2003. Over 2700 individuals from 71 countries have signed the letter to date. Follow the link below to learn more or to sign the letter.
weblink: prize/letter website • in detail XlnkS57E
Climate Change Impacts on Transportation Workshop
Transport Canada held a two-day workshop in Canmore, AB, January 2003 on the impacts of climate change on transportation in Canada. Impacts on transportation in Canada may arise from: – opening of the Northwest Passage – sea level rise – increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events – increased frequency of freeze/thaw cycles – changes to lake levels or debris flows in rivers – degradation of permafrost – droughts/extreme heat – warmer winters – avalanches Follow the link below to read the preliminary report and highlights from this workshop.
• from: Transport Canada • document: Climate Change Impacts on Transportation Workshop • in detail XlnkS57D XlnkC189A
Globe Awards for Environmental Excellence
The Globe Foundation and the Globe and Mail invites nominations for its annual Globe Awards for Environmental Excellence: Celebrating the Spirit the Environmental Excellence. The following awards are open for nominations: – Corporate Competitiveness Award – The Industry Group Award for Environmental Performance – The Corporate Award for Technology Innovation – The Industry Award for Export Performance – The Capital Markets Award for Sustainable Investment and Banking Awards will be presented at the Environment and Energy Conference Gala Awards Dinner in Toronto on May 22, 2003. Candidates must have an office located in Canada, and only the Canadian branch is eligible for an award. The deadline for entries is APRIL 4, 2003. Follow the link below for awards criteria and to download an application form.
weblink: awards info • from: Globe Foundation • in detail XlnkS57C XlnkC179A
Chair for Women in Science and Engineering at Memorial University
Memorial University of Newfoundland invites nominations and applications for the research Chair for Women in Science and Engineering for the Atlantic Region, under an initiative of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (www.nserc.ca/programs/wise_e.htm). The goal of the chair program is to increase the participation of women in science and engineering and to provide role models for women considering careers in these fields. The Chair holder will be expected to spend up to 50% of her time in the promotion of the objectives of the initiative. Memorial University was the host of the 1997-2002 NSERC/Petro-Canada Atlantic Chair that developed a solid base of successful programs and collaborations upon which the new Chair may build (www.mun.ca/cwse). The Chair holder will hold an academic appointment in a discipline in either the natural sciences or engineering, or both, as appropriate, and she will be expected to carry out scholarly work in her discipline. The candidate should be an accomplished engineer or scientist whose record and interests would be consistent with an appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor. Candidates already holding a faculty position in a Canadian university must hold an NSERC Discovery Grant and external candidates must apply for a Discovery Grant. The Chair holder’s appointment will be contingent upon a recommendation by the appropriate University appointment committee and approval by the funding partners. Nominations and applications should include a curriculum vitae, names and addresses of three references, and a brief outline of the candidate’s ideas on how she would meet the objectives of the initiative. REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS WILL COMMENCE MAY 1, 2003, with anticipated appointment as early as September 2003. Nominations and applications should be sent to: Dr. C. Loomis Vice-President (Research) Memorial University of Newfoundland St. John’s, Newfoundland A1C 5S7 Canada 709-737-2530 (phone); 709-737-2552 (fax); dosborne@mun.ca (email) Memorial University, the largest university in Atlantic Canada, plays an integral role in the educational and cultural life of Newfoundland and Labrador, offering diverse undergraduate and graduate programs to over 15,000 students from 50 countries (www.mun.ca). The University provides a distinctive and stimulating environment for learning in St. John’s, a very safe, friendly city with great historic charm, a vibrant cultural life, and easy access to a wide range of outdoor activities. Memorial University is part of a lively, local scientific and engineering community which maintains an inventory of available positions for qualified partners. Partners of candidates for positions are invited to include their resume for possible matching with other job opportunities. Memorial University is committed to employment equity and encourages applications from qualified women, visible minorities, aboriginal people and persons with disabilities. In accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada. The terms of the Chair require that the Chair holder, in this instance, be a woman.
weblink: Memorial University website (past Chair) • from: Memorial University • in detail XlnkS57B XlnkC1898
Frequently Asked Questions about the Science of Climate Change
The Meteorological Service of Canada has published this document to answer frequently asked questions on the science of climate change. Follow the link below to find answers to questions related to: – human influences on the atmosphere – predicting climate – global impacts – scientific credibility
weblink: FAQ webpage • from: Meteorological Service of Canada • in detail • see also: Environment Canada XlnkS57A XlnkC1897
Stakeholder Review: National Guide to Sustainable Municipal Infrastructure
The National Guide to Sustainable Municipal Infrastructure is a tool that will help municipalities identify needs, evaluate solutions, extend the service life of existing infrastructure and maximize the return on their investment. It is a tool in support of municipalities’ decision-making and long-range infrastructure planning processes, resulting in considerable savings and improved quality of life. An integral part of our process is to obtain stakeholder input on these best practices. The best practices referenced below will be available on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 for Stakeholder Review. These documents can be accessed by visiting our Guide Web site through the link below. – Coordination of Infrastructure Works to Minimize Disruption and Maximize Value – Strategic Commitment to the Environment by Municipal Corporations – Water Quality in Distribution Systems We encourage you to participate in the stakeholder review of these drafts. Comments should be returned to Nathalie Martel at Nathalie.Martel@nrc.ca or by fax at (613) 993-2180 by Wednesday, April 9, 2003. Your comments are greatly appreciated and will be carefully considered by the Guide working groups and appropriate changes will be made to the documents prior to their final release scheduled for July 2003. Any comments received after the formal review period (or as a result of the use of the best practice) will be considered in future updates to the best practices. You are also invited to visit our Web site at www.infraguide.gc.ca or contact us for further information at our toll-free number 1-866-330-3350.
weblink: guide website • from: Federation of Canadian Municipalities • in detail XlnkS579 XlnkC1896
Stormwater Planning: A Guidebook for BC
This guidebook is an excellent resource of best practices for stormwater management. The primary authors of the guidebook were Kim A. Stephens, MEng, PEng, Patrick Graham, BASC, MRM and David Reid, BCSLA, but they drew on the input and expertise of several agencies, local governments and other experts. “Stormwater Planning: A Guidebook for British Columbia provides a framework for effective stormwater management throughout the province. The stormwater planning guidebook — a new tool for local governments — presents a methodology for moving from planning to action that focuses on implementing early action where it is most needed. The guidebook approach is designed to eliminate the root cause of negative ecological and property impacts of stormwater by addressing the spectrum of rainfall events.” (-from the website intro) Follow the link below to download this document.
weblink: guidebook on the web • from: BC MWLAP- Environmental Management Branch • in detail XlnkS578 XlnkC1895