Arabic

Professor Mike Jenks

Oxford Brookes University,

Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development, UK

Designing the Waterfront – a kilometer inland?

New waterfront development is an act of faith, as well as a risk. It is clear that the impact of climate change on coastal regions will be serious. Despite Copenhagen, with its inadequate agreements, the chances of achieving the reductions in carbon emissions needed by 2020 are slight, unless action is taken by all who are in a position to do so.  The design professions must play their part.

It is a professional duty to ensure that all designs in the built environment are sustainable – not as is so often the case stated in words that are simply ‘greenwash’. Waterfronts are vulnerable and risky, so it is especially important to bear in mind the rise in sea levels, the impact of storms and heavy seas. This is a challenge for designers to achieve safe, ‘future proof’ and sustainable waterfront developments. Otherwise, the only viable option may be to build them a kilometre inland.