Can architects help save our planet?
Source: https://www.fastcompany.com/90801774/can-architects-help-save-our-planet
Author: Pardis Mirmalek
According to a special report published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 90 climate experts from 40 countries conclude that if humans fail to take immediate collective action to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2040, the consequences could be irreversible and deadly: extreme droughts, wildfires, floods, hurricanes, and widespread famines that will become as commonplace as seasonal changes. Globally, building practices account for about 40% of carbon emissions. This means that the building and construction industry could have a significant impact on the reduction of carbon emissions and climate change. In an effort to meet the Paris Agreement’s 1.5˚C increase limit, the International Energy Agency has called for the stop of all new fossil fuels development. Since nearly half of all carbon emissions globally are generated by the building industry, for this to be successful, there would need to be an immediate, fundamental, worldwide shift in the way fossil fuels are employed in the construction process. This puts architects in the unique position to be impactful in the effort to stop - or at minimum, limit—global warming.