AIA COTE: Connecting Public and Planetary Health
Today is the 50th anniversary of a day created to honor our planet and protest its neglect and degradation. 2020 is a year that many have seen as a milestone as we work toward reversing the global warming that threatens the prospect of our future here; the theme of this year's Earth Day is climate action.
The Earth Day Network reminds us that today "we have two crises: One is the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The other is a slowly building disaster for our climate. We can, will, and must solve both challenges. The world was not prepared for the novel coronavirus. But we still have time to prepare - in every part of the world - for the climate crisis."
This year is also the 30th anniversary of the American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment (COTE), which was founded on the idea that architects could be part of the solution, rather than the problem. AIA COTE continues to advance design excellence as the foundation for a sustainable, healthy, and equitable world. Now, more than ever before, connections between the health of our communities and the health of our planet are clear. (A recent Harvard public health study suggested higher COVID-19 fatality rates in regions with higher rates of particulate pollution.)
For 23 years, Earth Day has been the day when AIA announced the annual COTE Top Ten Awards and the Top Ten Student Competition winners from architecture schools across the country. The announcements have been postponed as AIA focuses on COVID-19 response; we anticipate that this recognition will happen next month.
These leading-edge projects, and the insights of our rising next generation, are more relevant than ever as models for creating a sustainable, healthy, and equitable world as we restart and reimagine our communities and economy in the coming years.
In the meantime, we honor Earth Day at 50 and COTE at 30 by sharing the voices of some past leaders: We asked them, before COVID-19emerged, to share memories and offer thoughts about what's next: https://bit.ly/COTELeadersLookForward. Here's a peek from founding chair, Bob Berkebile, FAIA:
"My greatest hope for the future is that we make 2020 the year of perfect vision and recognize climate change – specifically global warming – for the existential threat that it is, and launch a cultural revolution to make the Earth cool again." Bob wrote these words before the pandemic had revealed its reach, but they are even more powerful in the new context. It's time for action.
This year's Earth Day gatherings are virtual, not physical. The Earth Day Network's virtual celebration is a 24 hours of action: join in (https://www.earthday.org/campaign/digital-earth-day/). There are COTE and AIA component events this week; check local calendars. If there is not one near you, you might consider joining one of these today:
The Earth Day Network reminds us: "Human health and planetary health are inextricably linked. To protect one, we must protect the other. Millions rallied behind this idea to create the first Earth Day in 1970, and, 50 years later, we must rally behind it again."
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Kira Gould
Principal
Kira Gould CONNECT
Oakland CA
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