The twin crises of climate breakdown and biodiversity loss are the most serious issue of our time. Buildings and construction play a major part, accounting for nearly 40% of energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions whilst also having a significant impact on our natural habitats.
For everyone working in the construction industry, meeting the needs of our society without breaching the earth’s ecological boundaries will demand a paradigm shift in our behaviour. Together with our clients, we will need to commission and design buildings, cities and infrastructures as indivisible components of a larger, constantly regenerating and self-sustaining system.
The research and technology exist for us to begin that transformation now, but what has been lacking is collective will. Recognising this, we are committing to strengthen our working practices to create architecture and urbanism that has a more positive impact on the world around us.
We will seek to:
We hope that every UK architectural practice will join us in making this commitment. To sign the declaration, practices must have an office in the UK employing at least one architect registered with the Architects Registration Board (ARB). Self-employed, registered architects based in the UK can also sign.
If you are not an architect, or are based outside the UK, please visit our global hub, Built Environment Declares, which covers many built environment professions within the UK and in 27 other countries.
#architectsdeclare
Sign here: