Does the Built Environment Sustainability Tool (BEST) address resilience sufficiently?

Abstract

Climate change is already having significant impacts globally. These impacts are experienced most acutely in developing countries where infrastructure and population are often more vulnerable and resources and capacity for mitigation are limited. It is therefore particularly important to understand vulnerabilities to climate change in developing countries and address these in the most effective and efficient ways possible. The Built Environment Sustainability Tool (BEST) was created to guide the development of more sustainable neighbourhoods in developing countries. Through analysis of current climatic change projections for South Africa, key implications for neighbourhoods are ascertained. These are reviewed against criteria in the BEST to investigate whether the tool adequately addresses projected climate changes and promotes associated resilience measures. Findings from the study indicate that while the BEST provides a useful guide for addressing sustainability in neighbourhoods it could be enhanced by addressing resilience more comprehensively. Recommendations are therefore made for the further development of the BEST.