Sustainability Pavilion To Make A Difference: Expo 2020

The importance of sustainable development has been repeatedly stressed in recent years. Progress without consideration for the environment can be problematic. The director of Terra, the Sustainability Pavilion, John Bull says that Dubai Expo 2020’s biggest and most impactful legacy would be that of sustainability.

He claims that it will expand people’s perspectives and encourage them to take more environment-friendly choices in daily life. He feels that such ‘responsible personal choices’ can bring about a huge change in the world. John Bull fulfills this responsibility by cutting off meat from his diet and choosing to be a vegetarian.

What Is Terra, The Sustainability Pavilion?

The Dubai Expo 2020 event is set to happen in October this year. Terra is one of the three theme-based pavilions at the Expo which those who visit the world fair can try. The other two are Opportunity and Mobility. It was provisionally open back in January when a survey revealed that 90 percent of the 100,000 visitors of Terra reconsidered their habitual choices. Designed by the UK-based Grimshaw Architects, Terra has the highest eco-certification as Lead has certified it.

 It includes more than a thousand photovoltaic panels. These make a roof canopy and solar-studded ‘Energy Trees’ surrounding the building. The structure stands for sustainability, as all that’s inside it is made to be as ‘as sustainable as humanely possible’. Terra has a fully self-reliant building and even has technology that collects water from the atmosphere. Terra brings about net-zero wastage of energy and water.

How Do We Modify Our Choices to Positively Impact the Earth?

Because human behavior has such an imprint on the planet, changing it can have a significant positive effect on it. Some of the steps suggested by John Bull include cultivating food at home, reducing the usage of single-use plastic, taking as few trips as possible, and re-evaluating consumption habits.

An example of this is the fact that the café inside the pavilion will not be having beef on its menu. This red meat has been replaced by quinoa or local vegetables and plants that grow in the desert. This prevents the destructive footprint that beef consumption leaves on the plant, which can be prevented through deliberate action.

One of Terra’s chief labs in the structure is a ‘laboratory of future values’. In this gallery, they will be portraying several other examples, ideas, and innovations to inspire a change in thinking through technology and creativity. It will show the potential of acting together to make a difference.

John Bull adds that now is the most important time to have a conversation through the experience of Terra since the pandemic is a critical period in the world. There is uncertainty about the future, and concerns on how to do things differently. This is where Terra, a sustainable pavilion, comes in through Expo 2020. Even though it has been challenging, the endeavor hopes to bring people together and contribute to this very important mission that will have an impact on our future.