Shaping the new era – a plea for a change of perspective in the construction industry
The world is currently undergoing a major transformation. The Anthropocene characterized by uncontrolled growth and exploitation of natural resources is giving way to a new era in which social conditions and the health of our planet are in harmony: the era of post-Anthropocene stewardship. This transformational change provides a great opportunity to rethink the world and make our built environment more livable, healthier, and more equitable.
The course has long been set in this direction: Governments’ commitments to climate neutrality, the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the resulting requirements for companies (ESG) usher in the new era. Even the construction industry responded with a commitment of all European construction ministers to sign the New Leipzig Charter: The focus is on a green, fair, and productive urban development.
The upcoming transformation will fundamentally change our daily lives and our cities. This process will not be easy, and conflicts of interest are inevitable. Innovation, cooperation, and social discourse are needed to identify viable solutions. But if we succeed, overcoming the Anthropocene and its crises will ultimately be a huge, almost inexhaustible economic stimulus program involving a consensus across many sectors of society. This is about nothing less than restructuring the urban space and reorganizing its functions, including utilities, mobility, work, life, education, healthcare, and leisure. Acting sustainably means to keep the future open for the generations to come.
Yet our industry is still struggling to embark on this transformation. Rather than considering the challenges as an opportunity, an attempt is made to run backwards to the finish line of the post-fossil age, which results in unnecessary confusion and delay.
However, those wanting to turn back the wheel of history will soon be rolled over themselves. In other words, to quote Charles Darwin, it is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent; it is the one most adaptable to change. The time has come to turn the switch to “forward”.
