From Sustainability to Socially Responsible Design by Caroline L. Davey, Andrew B. Wootton, Chris T. Boyko, and Rachel Cooper (A Paper produced for the Design Synergy21 Group, Design for the 21st Century programme) 2.11.05 1. Introduction Since the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, attention has focused on the need to consider the sustainable development of urban areas. This is because over 47 per cent of the world‘s population currently live in urban areas and it is forecasted that about 60 per cent of the population will be living in urban areas by 2030 (Population Reference Bureau, 2004). The European Community is one of the most urbanised in the world, with 79 per cent of the population living in urban areas (Fowke and Prasad 1996, cited in Gibbs 1997). The process of urbanisation is linked to economic development, and is often strongest in countries undergoing rapid industrial growth. Indeed, cities produce some 60 per cent of the global Gross National Product (GNP) (Fowke and Prasad 1996, cited in Gibbs 1997). The effect of urban development is often mixed, however. On the one hand, urban development can pull people into the city, and migration to the cities can improve the standard of living for some. On the other hand, urban growth depletes the world‘s resources, as cities demand enormous levels of energy. Cities are built on 2 per cent of the earth‘s surface, but contain 75 per cent of the world‘s resources and discharge similar amounts of waste. The economic power of cities depends on the conversion of and exploitation of natural resources into consumer products. This leads to environmental problems such as air pollution, inadequate sanitation, difficulties disposing of waste and poor working and housing conditions (Girardet, 2001). Urban development can also lead to social problems. These include crime, antisocial behaviour, fear of crime and poor health, particularly amongst disadvantaged communities and low income families. The growth of a city can also have a negative impact on the surrounding areas, as individuals and resources are pulled away from rural areas (Giradet, 2001). National and European governments have attempted to address the problems created by urbanisation. In the 1990s, sustainable development was put on the agenda in the UK and promoted through a series of policy documents. The UK government argued that urban centres can thrive, whilst still meeting the needs of the various stakeholders, through excellence in design, environmental and social responsibility, economic investment and legislative change. The steps taken by the Government has helped to embed the concept of sustainable communities within the design literature (Commission of the European Communities, 2001; Department of the Environment, Transport and the