Navigating an Evolving Sustainable Built Environment provides a comprehensive, accessible, and practice-oriented guide for anyone seeking to understand or influence the future of sustainability in the built environment. It traces the journey from the early foundations of sustainable development to today’s rapidly evolving landscape shaped by climate science, policy, technological disruption, and societal change. The book aims to empower readers to begin or strengthen their integration of purposeful sustainability — in buildings, landscapes, and cities that are regenerative, future-ready, and genuinely aligned with the needs of people and planet. Unpacking key frameworks such as the triple bottom line, the five capitals model, and ESG reporting, this book provides the conceptual tools needed to make informed, value-driven decisions. It helps readers navigate the interrelated strands of sustainability subjects and complex policy landscapes, offering assessment of emerging standards and trends including net zero buildings, climate adaptation, health and wellbeing and circular economy. International case studies illustrate transformative impact from the viewpoints of developers, designers and end users, showcasing their focus on vision and technology, action and governance, clearly illustrating real progress being made across the world. Navigating an Evolving Sustainable Built Environment provides forward-looking insight into the twin major forces shaping the future of the built environment: the accelerating climate crisis and the rise of technologies such as AI. In this emerging new agenda that demands both technical competence and creative leadership, this book aims to offer practical strategies for practitioners and decision-makers to take the next steps with optimism and a sense of shared purpose.
