ESD Lecturer Dr Kristen MacAskill has been featured by Turner and Townsend as part of their 'Perspectives' series, speaking about the disruption of the pandemic and the challenge of building sustainability and resilience into the recovery.
The article highlights how the pandemic has forced people to think differently, creating a window of opportunity for changes in approach to how we tackle sustainability issues such as the climate emergency and the sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Dr MacAskill echoes calls from Mark Carney, former Governor of the Banks of England and Canada, to reform our economic system to better align with our values, reflecting the challenges set out by the SDGs.
"When we are able to move on from the pandemic, the plans for a green recovery need to be comprehensive and compelling. Climate change is not the only sustainability issue in town and while technology can help, it will not fix everything."
Highlighting the key role of the construction sector, Dr MacAskill also argues that companies need to offer greater transparency in their reporting on sustainability issues, so that the public are fully informed about their impacts. By measuring sustainability effectively and embedding it in their corporate mindset, companies can take the positive action needed to address the challenges ahead.
You can read the article at the following link: https://www.turnerandtownsend.com/en/perspectives/building-back-sustainably-in-a-deeper-shade-of-green/.
Dr MacAskill leads Resilience of Infrastructure Systems, one of the core modules on the MPhil in Engineering for Sustainable Development. She also leads the Client Consultancy Project, where students engage with globally leading organisations to provide strategic input on real sustainability challenges.