by Mary Ann Lazarus, FAIA, and Vincent Martinez, Hon. AIA
What does the UN Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP26) under way up in Glasgow have to do with AIA COTE members? In one word, plenty! As members of the Board Committee on Climate Change and Design Excellence (CCADE) we’re all about coordinating and promoting the AIA’s Climate Action Plan throughout the Institute’s many platforms. And Glasgow offers a major opportunity for all architects to make an impact in driving the connections between the built environment and climate action. (For more about the importance of COP see this related ARCHITECT article: a Q&A with CCADE Member, Vincent Martinez, Hon. AIA, President and COO of Architecture 2030 and Kira Gould, COTE Leadership Group member and Communications Chair).
The good news is that the AIA is well represented at COP26 with COTE 2020 Advisory Group Chair/CCADE Member Julie Hiromoto, FAIA, Government Advocacy Committee Chair/COTE Advocacy Chair Mike Davis, FAIA, AIA UK Sustainability Chair Dr. Mark Breeze, AIA and AIA President Peter Exley, FAIA all in attendance at the different built environment events.
This year’s COP takes an expanded approach to addressing climate action with dual goals to effectively address climate mitigation and climate adaptation:
- Secure global net zero by mid-century and keep 1.5 degrees within reach
- Adapt to protect communities and natural habitats
These goals will be discussed in depth at a series of built environment-focused events before and during COP26.
Here are just a few of the significant efforts and events spotlighting the importance of the built environment:
1.5°C COP26 Communiqué
On October 6, 2021, leaders from the world’s largest and most influential architectural, engineering, and construction firms and professional organizations issued the 1.5°C COP26 Communiqué – a challenge to sovereign world governments to step up their commitments to reduce carbon emissions from the built environment to meet the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C carbon budget. The building industry is committed to meeting the Paris Agreement target, and are demanding world governments do the same. Peter Exley, FAIA, AIA President, said:
"It is imperative that world leaders meeting in Glasgow fully commit to adopting aggressive building policies, incentives, and codes that meet the 1.5°C carbon budget. As our nation's leaders set ambitious targets, architects are making them a reality."
Built Environment Summit
In partnership with Architects Declare, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) presents the Built Environment Summit 2021. The Built Environment Summit took place on 28 and 29 October following the publication of the Built for the Environment report and ahead of COP26 in Glasgow. Presenters include Edward Mazria, FAIA, 2021 AIA Gold Medal winner and Architecture 2030 Founder and CEO, and Carl Elefante, FAIA, 2018 AIA President.
City, Regions and Built Environment Day
Part of the presidency programme for COP26, the City, Regions and Built Environment Day, on November 11, will focus on issues to drive action. Key elements such as science and inclusivity will be incorporated throughout, and will ensure that a balance of mitigation, adaptation and finance runs through the whole COP26 programme.
A consortium of NGOs worked closely with the UN High Level Climate Champions and the COP26 Presidency to shape the agenda of the Cities, Regions and Built Environment Day at COP26.
What’s next?
Given all this focus on the critical role of the built environment, will governments include buildings and construction related targets, policies and measures in their Nationally Determined Contributions, National Climate Action Plans and Long-term Strategies? We, the members of the built environment business community, are ready. Let’s get going!
Mary Ann Lazarus, FAIA, is a consultant with Cameron MacAllister Group. She has more than 35 years experience in architecture and sustainability and she was the 2017 chair of the AIA COTE national Leadership Group. Vince Martinez, Hon. AIA, is the President and COO of Architecture 2030. The Committee for Climate Action and Design Excellence (CCADE), is an AIA Board Committee (it reports directly to the AIA Board of Directors and President) whose charge is to advise the Board on key issue in support of AIA’s Climate Action Plan.