"Green" and "Sustainable"

In this week's lecture the terms 'green' and 'sustainable' are mentioned separately, even though they are often confused in daily life contexts. A product, building or activity can be described as green or sustainable when it is considered to be nature-friendly, low-carbon and energy-efficient. However, the two terms are different: the concept of green is included in the objective of sustainability. "Green" requires the conservation of natural resources, and the mitigation of damage to the environment, often with a focus on recyclability and health. Sustainability, however, requires social and economic benefits in addition to the environment, such as fair treatment and welfare for separate groups.

 

I then tried to consider why this confusion in terms had arisen and suggested that there are two main reasons for this. Firstly, the term "Green" appears more often in the daily sustainable behaviours of citizens, such as reusable objects and biodegradable plastic bags, which emphasize the protection of the environment, and therefore people are more likely to refer to "Green" when mentioning sustainability and equate the two concepts. Furthermore, social and economic concepts of sustainability are relatively more general and abstract though they are closely related to the residents' everyday lives, and frequently not discussed in the context of sustainability or omitted from everyday discussions about sustainability. Thus, city planners should be aware of the ease of understanding and proper dissemination when delivering design objectives or new concepts.