What the future holds
In the past few months, we have seen many more traditional organizations mention the need to address climate change and biodiversity loss. There is a plethora of online events, conferences, panels, podcasts, op-eds, and reports on the matter and even more specifically in sustainability in the built environment. If you didn’t already take a listen, the TED Talk on Climate Mindset was a good one, and also I recommend following TED’s Countdown.
In addition, building energy codes are being updated and becoming more environmentally rigorous. San Francisco just became the largest municipality in California and the 40th city in the state to ban the use of natural gas in new buildings following Berkeley which did so a year ago. Cities around California are following this trend. We also know three other states are looking into looking into phasing gas out, New York, Massachusetts and Colorado.
The recent election results are certainly a positive step towards achieving the goals of the Paris Climate Accord according to the Climate Action Tracker. Unfortunately, the U.S. is still one of the world’s worst polluters and does not have sufficient measures to meet even the 2°C target. A lot of action needs to take place on a local level to quicken the pace. The US will rejoin the agreement in January and as such we should be expecting to see more regulations for the protection of our environment. Some of that intervention will certainly influence architecture and sustainable design. The map below illustrates the countries that are compatible with the accord.
Although COVID-19 has been a wake-up call of the fragility and interconnectivity of our world, many nations are not yet taking the right steps in their recovery plans. We certainly hope to see more action. Although I have numerous times referred to the power of industry and finance in climate change, some argue that the ”market” will not save us from climate disaster, and they just might be right.
What I’m reading:
Op-ed: Climate change is ravaging the U.S.; why are we still building with fossil fuels?, Architect’s Newspaper
Architecture 2030's Open Letter to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Calls for Revised Carbon Emission Reduction Targets, Architecture Magazine
Revealed: Covid recovery plans threaten global climate hopes, The Guardian
The “market” won’t save us from Climate Disaster. We must rethink our system, The Guardian
The Importance of Indoor Air Quality, Design Milk
Energy Modeling is Pivotal, Architect Magazine
San Francisco Bans Natural Gas Use in New Buildings, Bloomberg
What Biden means for sustainable design, Architect Magazine
