Synergistic interventions for sustainability improvement

Abstract

The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicates that ‘multiple synergies will be required to achieve the goals of sustainable development, including climate adaptation and mitigation, poverty eradication and reducing inequalities’. This paper explores what ‘multiple synergies’ may mean for neighbourhoods. Sustainability analysis of an existing neighbourhood in Pretoria, South Africa is undertaken using the Built Environment Sustainability Tool (BEST). This is used as the basis to propose, and test, interventions. These interventions are evaluated using the BEST to understand their impact and ascertain whether they support multiple ‘multiple synergies’. The study finds that the interventions identified and tested created multiple impacts across several areas, which can be regarded as synergistic. These synergistic interventions are analysed to understand these in more detail and identify their characteristics and commonalities. The paper contributes to an understanding of how ‘multiple synergies required to achieve goals of sustainable development and climate change and adaptation’ can be derived in built environments and neighbourhoods.