Committee on the Environment

 View Only

Community HTML

ALBION DISTRICT LIBRARY BY PERKINS + WILL IS A 2018 COTE TOP TEN RECIPIENT. IMAGE: DOUBLESPACE PHOTOGRAPHY

Quick Links

Who we are

The Committee on the Environment (COTE®) is an AIA Knowledge Community working for architects, allied professionals, and the public to achieve climate action and climate justice through design. We believe that design excellence is the foundation of a healthy, sustainable, and equitable future. Our work promotes design strategies that empower all AIA members to realize the best social and environmental outcomes with the clients and the communities they serve.

Enjoy our latest on COTE news (and follow us on X and LinkedIn). 

To learn about the Framework for Design Excellence (formerly the COTE Top Ten Measures), click here.

Check out COTE's history and timeline. 

Starting a local COTE or sustainability group and need some guidance? Check out the AIA COTE Network Resources here.

A big thank you to our 2024 sponsors: 
Founding sponsors: Building Green
Premier sponsors: Sherwin-Williams
Sustaining sponsors: GAF Roofing, Milliken, Andersen Windows,
BlueScope Buildings
Green sponsors: EPIC Metals
Allied sponsors: TLC Engineering, Sierra Pacific Windows

Expand all | Collapse all

AIA Resolution: Climate Change Response

  • 1.  AIA Resolution: Climate Change Response

    Posted 08-22-2019 06:02 PM
      |   view attached
    I have heard, on this platform, that some AIA members are frustrated because it's challenging to find the AIA Resolution on Climate Change Response (that passed in June 2019 and which AIA Board members will vote, in September, to determine ratification or otherwise). I searched the AIA website, and empathize with the frustration. 

    I'm attaching the Resolution here, with the vote tally. If there are those in your circles who have not seen it, please considering sharing it.

    If you believe that the profession of architecture has a leadership role to play in climate action (or that architects, who are also humans, have a stake in the impending impacts), then you may agree with me (and some others) that the AIA's movement on this topic, and the Board vote next month (and lots that will come soon after), is very important.

    Here is the AIA's news story about the various items addressed at the (A'19) Conference on Architecture's business meeting, one of which was the Resolution: 
    https://www.aia.org/articles/6160007-aias-162nd-annual-meeting-illuminates-ambi

    Here is Architectural Record's piece on the Resolution's passage:
    https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/14131-at-2019-aia-conference-members-push-for-urgent-climate-action?v=preview


    ------------------------------
    Kira Gould
    Principal
    Kira Gould CONNECT
    Oakland CA
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: AIA Resolution: Climate Change Response

    Posted 09-18-2019 05:31 PM
    Thanks Kira for this post. I too tried to find Resolution 19-11 on the AIA Press release and/or website with no success. Why keep this "urgent" issue hidden? This is too important to the membership to hide. Please elaborate on the ratification process. The mandate for Sustainable design needs to be part of the by-laws of our organization NOW!

    ------------------------------
    John Egan AIA
    Retired
    Retired
    Springfield VA
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: AIA Resolution: Climate Change Response

    Posted 09-23-2019 11:30 AM
    Thanks for sharing.

    ------------------------------
    Dustin Davis AIA
    Architect
    Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects
    Little Rock AR
    ------------------------------



  • 4.  RE: AIA Resolution: Climate Change Response

    Posted 09-23-2019 11:31 AM

    I have posted a summary of some of the AIA positions on my blog that include the related Architecture 2030 commitment

    http://greenswardcivitas.blogspot.com/2019/07/a-call-to-leadership.html



    ------------------------------
    Laurie Barlow AIA
    Principal/Partner
    L. Barlow & Company
    South Pasadena CA
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: AIA Resolution: Climate Change Response

    Posted 09-30-2019 04:25 PM
    Thanks Kira for posting this Resolution 19-11. I too searched for this document on the AIA Press Release and/or the website with no results. Sustainable Design is too critical an issue to be hidden. Please elaborate on ratification. The AIA by-laws must acknowledge the importance of Sustainable Design to our practice.

    ------------------------------
    John Egan AIA
    Retired
    Retired
    Springfield VA
    ------------------------------



  • 6.  RE: AIA Resolution: Climate Change Response

    Posted 09-30-2019 04:25 PM
    Thank you!!

    ------------------------------
    James Carr AIA
    James Carr, AIA architecture & design
    Brookline MA
    ------------------------------



  • 7.  RE: AIA Resolution: Climate Change Response

    Posted 01-02-2020 03:34 PM
    Any update or explanation from the AIA on why it is STILL almost impossible to find the actual Resolution text on the AIA website?? Seems like a major omission now we are more than 3 months past the ratification.

    Thanks
    James


    ------------------------------
    James Carr AIA
    James Carr, AIA architecture & design
    Brookline MA
    ------------------------------



  • 8.  RE: AIA Resolution: Climate Change Response

    Posted 01-06-2020 05:22 PM
    Hi James,

    Thanks for following up on the resolution for urgent and sustained climate action. AIA staff supporting COTE are looking into the policy around posting resolutions. With all the "whereas" and "be it further resolved" language, I suspect those are considered internal, governance documents rather than instruments to communicate with the membership. We did issue a a press release in September when the Board passed the resolution (hooray!).

    Our communications staff is also working on a revised website and communications campaign for approval by the Board. In the meantime, a task force of member leaders are working furiously on a climate action plan to set the long term course. 

    We truly appreciate and share your passion and drive to mitigate and adapt to a changing climate.

    Melissa Wackerle, LEED ND, BD+C
    Sr. Director Sustainable Practice & Knowledge

    ------------------------------
    Melissa Wackerle
    Sr. Director, Sustainable Practice & Knowledge
    The American Institute of Architects
    Washington DC
    ------------------------------



  • 9.  RE: AIA Resolution: Climate Change Response

    Posted 01-07-2020 10:42 AM
    Thanks -

    I'm on the planning board in my town and I plan to enter this AIA resolution into the minutes of a public meeting. The legal language is appropriate in that context.

    So, even as an "internal" AIA document it would be helpful if it were more readily accessible. 

    I'm sure there must be other, unrelated, "internal" but not private AIA documents that would be of similar usefulness to others. Some kind of resource library of this kind would be a good service for members.

    - James

    ------------------------------
    James Carr AIA
    James Carr, AIA architecture & design
    Brookline MA
    ------------------------------



  • 10.  RE: AIA Resolution: Climate Change Response

    Posted 01-06-2020 05:29 PM
    It is on a tile on the front page of our website. It is written in paragraph form instead of the resolution whereas form. Here is a link to the page once you click on the tile. http://new.aia.org/resources/77541-where-we-stand-climate-change-

     It was published on September 16, 2019

    ------------------------------
    Linna Frederick FAIA
    Principal
    Frederick & Frederick Architects
    Beaufort SC
    ------------------------------



  • 11.  RE: AIA Resolution: Climate Change Response

    Posted 01-07-2020 10:42 AM
    Oh, interesting. I hadn't realized it was the same thing. As a legalese resolution it seemed to carry more weight - but maybe that is just me. ;-)

    thanks

    ------------------------------
    James Carr AIA
    James Carr, AIA architecture & design
    Brookline MA
    ------------------------------



  • 12.  RE: AIA Resolution: Climate Change Response

    Posted 01-06-2020 05:29 PM
    I think this might be the document that you are seeking.  There is also the updated Ethical Canons of Practice, or similar title, that includes the basic directives that were added to the standards of practice.  I have the 2018 version but it was updated.  Hope that helps.  It is complicated finding specific items, but there is a lot of useful stuff along the way!
    Sherman Aronson AIA LEED BD+C

    ------------------------------
    Sherman Aronson AIA
    Sr. Associate
    BLT Architects
    Philadelphia PA
    ------------------------------