Environmental problems are accelerating with energy consumption and the release of greenhouse gases as the major issues. This affects landscape planning mostly through environmentally hazardous transportation and heating of buildings. In environmental work, the term "Sustainable development" is often used. This term was coined in the Bruntland report in 1987. A number of frameworks have been developed to clarify the term and to remind the user about relevant aspects of sustainability.
There is also a need for good examples on both the work process and already developed sustainability projects that in a clear way can demonstrate how work for a sustainable development is done. A common view is that work for a sustainable development is about a comprehensive view, long term thinking and sound thinking.
Landscape architects and planners can effect the development within the area of spatial planning and landscape planning and through this make a sustainable lifestyle possible. Both categories have good environmental knowledge and can work with for example space development, traffic planning, landscape analysis, storm water treatment and green structure together with protective measure, restorations and development of environments to minimize the impact on physical resourses.
The environmental development is largely affected due to other factors as the general market and how people live their lives. There might be a need for means of control and distribution of knowledge to direct the development in the right direction. It is important that environmental measures are pedagogic and visible, so that people can see what is done for the environment and get information on how it is done. In that way people can become more environmentally conscious and that in turn could result in a more environmental friendly living.
Hammarby Sjöstad in Stockholm and Västra hamnen in Malmö are two recent projects where many environmental projects, evaluations and follow-ups have been carried out. The environmental projects have mainly concerned energy issues, recycling of water and w...
