Yes, but the implicit timescale in these discussions is something near the expected lifetime for the children of those now living. On that timescale, most of us had better change something soon.
I don't think talking about green communities ignores technological advance. Rather, what's changed is the angle of technological attack. Green communities are an interesting experiment. Most of us work on taking the technology used by most of the world, and gradually reducing its sustainability and environmental footprint.
By contrast, zero carbon communities start with net zero carbon output to the environment and hope that they can expand from there to be economical and capable of sufficient densities.
I don't think talking about green communities ignores technological advance. Rather, what's changed is the angle of technological attack. Green communities are an interesting experiment. Most of us work on taking the technology used by most of the world, and gradually reducing its sustainability and environmental footprint.
By contrast, zero carbon communities start with net zero carbon output to the environment and hope that they can expand from there to be economical and capable of sufficient densities.