Positive Development

'Net positive', from Positive Development (PD) theory, is a paradigm in sustainable development and design. PD theory (taught and published from 2003)[1][2][3] was first detailed in Positive Development (2008),[4] and detailed in Net-Positive Design (2020).[5] A net positive system/structure would 'give back to nature and society more than it takes' over its life cycle.[6] In contrast, conventional sustainable design and development, in the real-world context of excess population growth, biodiversity loss, cumulative pollution, wealth disparities and social inequities closes off future options. To reverse the overshoot of planetary boundaries, a 'positive Development' would, among other sustainability criteria, increase nature beyond pre-urban or pre-industrial conditions.[7]

  1. ^ Birkeland, J. (2003) 'Retrofitting: Beyond Zero Waste', in KLM-UC International Conference Proceedings, University of Canberra, ACT, Australia
  2. ^ Birkeland, J. (2004) 'Building Assessment Systems: Reversing Environmental Impacts', Nature and Society Forum, ACT, Australia, http://www.naf.org.au/naf-forum/birkeland (accessed 2005)
  3. ^ Birkeland, J. (2005) 'Reversing Negative Impacts by Design', in Sustainability for the ACT: the Future's in our Hands, Office of Sustainability, ACT, Australia.
  4. ^ "Positive Development: From Vicious Circles to Virtuous Cycles through Built Environment Design".
  5. ^ "Net-Positive Design and Sustainable Urban Development". Routledge & CRC Press. Retrieved 2024-05-06.
  6. ^ Eco-positive impacts of development must keep pace with human consumption (or ecological footprint) and offset past losses of nature, as defined in Positive Development (Ibid) p. 6.
  7. ^ A sustainable building should aim to be better for nature/society than no building at all, as well as increase nature beyond native conditions. A rule of reason would be applied as to whether the baseline is pre-industrial or pre-historic, depending on the location and circumstances.