2.5 IMPACT OF THE FINDINGS ON THE GROUND While the findings of the survey have evidenced the range of challenges being faced, the consequences are being experienced in difference ways in different Commonwealth countries as illustrated below:
2.5.1 AUSTRALIA
Professor Barbara Norman, University of Canberra, Australia Australia is one of the most urbanised nations in the world. Over 85% of the population live in the coastal zone and most live in the urban areas of the coastal zone. Australia is therefore predominantly a coastal urban nation. Urban growth continues particularly in the capital cities and regional coastal towns. As a nation, our urban population is expected to grow from 20 to 40 million by 2050. Australia is also identified as a country that will experience significant impacts from climate change; fire, flood drought and storms. The Australian fires of 2020 are a prime example of stretched resources with small urban coastal communities being in some cases nearly wiped out. Australia is also a very large and diverse country with tropical environments in the north, arid environments in the centre to cold climates in the south. The challenges for built environment professionals are indeed large. Given the above context and the survey findings, the built environment professionals face the following three challenges in Australia: · Supporting the training and development of professionals in coastal regional Australia that are experiencing both the pressures of urban growth and climate risks. · Ongoing professional development for built environment professional across a large and very diverse nation. · Upskilling of the current and future professional on planning for climate change i.e. actions we can take in the built environment that will both reduce emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. The built environment professions in Australia have played a critical role in recent years in the process of recovery and rebuilding from disasters. In particular, the professionals have argued strongly to ‘build back better’ to be more resilient in the future. To do this better in the future, we need strong investment in strategic and scenario planning as highlighted by the Planning Institute of Australia’s recent national statement: ‘Through the lens: the tipping point’34, calling for a national planning framework.
2.5.2 BANGLADESH
Mr Jalal Ahmed, President, Institute of Architects Bangladesh & Dr Farida Nilufar, Secretary, Environment and Urbanisation, Institute of Architects Bangladesh In the absence of critical lack of capacity of professionals, the cities and towns of Bangladesh are becoming unliveable mainly due to lack of proper development controls, poor management of waste, unbridled expansion of industries emitting toxic gases and effluents.
34 https://www.planning.org.au/policy/national-settlement-strategy
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Myopic and blinkered policies of the past have created this frightening condition. Situations are further aggravated due to poor enforcement of policy. The towns and cities are rapidly losing their natural resources like water bodies, greeneries and open spaces. The rivers, lakes and wetlands in and around the cities are being encroached upon and filled up for expansion of habitats, due to lack of strict enforcements.
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Planning for climate change and rapid urbanisation