Sustainable Planner

During a discussion, I was informed that in Australia the most difficult people to be convinced embracing sustainability is the town planners. Whenever the subject of incorporating sustainable development principles into practice and planning, their pre-requisite is to have the rules and guidelines first. The planners are so abide by the regulations and standards that very few can take bold steps to make first change. It is only after the sustainable development proponents convinced them with figures and data that the planners will start making amendment to plans. Perhaps this precautionary attitude is due to training. Planners are trained to formulate policies and to draft plan after taking into consideration every aspects and factors ranging from physical, social, environment to economy.

However, this approach has made planners lagging behind when it comes to championing sustainability issues.

Planners as the public guardian to conserve a quality living environment should have gone in front without being asked for. Planners should have set a role model for other professional.

I hope that planners can participate and contribute actively in the Malaysia Government pledge of reducing 40% CO2 by 2020. We should not miss the boat again.