Atelier Ten signs the COP26 Communiqué
Atelier Ten are joining forces with more than sixty other large and influential international architecture, engineering, planning and construction firms to issue a challenge to government leaders to step up their emissions reductions targets to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. The message from these firms and organisations comes in the lead up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP 26) in November.
Buildings are the largest source of the world’s carbon emissions globally, and account for approximately 40% of total emissions. When accounting for the embodied carbon of building interiors, systems and associated infrastructure, that percentage is substantially higher. Decarbonising the building sector is essential if we are to avoid exceeding an increase of 1.5°C.
“Those responsible for planning, designing, and constructing the global built environment are ready to lead and transform our sector so it is a major part of the solution to the climate crisis,” said Ed Mazria, founder and CEO of Architecture 2030. “It’s long past time for governments to accelerate the pace of emissions reductions so that we don’t exceed the 1.5°C target.”
The independent, non-profit organization Architecture 2030 spearheaded this unprecedented joint initiative from the world’s leading architectural, engineering, planning, and construction business leaders by inviting select firms and professional organizations to reach a collective commitment to decarbonize the built world by 2040, in line with 1.5°C climate targets.