As the world gathers in Paris from November 30th to December 11th for the COP21 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) Conference, addressing the building sector will be essential to secure a positive outcome.

Architecture 2030 is playing a key role in a number of events that will illustrate the importance of architects, planners and designers in achieving decarbonization of the built environment by 2050.

UNFCCC Buildings Day

December 3rd, Innovations Gallery, Le Bourget, Paris (La Galerie, free registration required).

UPDATE Dec 3rd: Here’s a summary of the highlights of the day from social media posts and links as the day progressed

Architecture 2030 participated in securing and planning the first ever “Buildings Day” to be held as part of a UNFCCC climate change talks.

The objective of the program is to launch an unprecedented alliance of organizations committed to putting the building sector on the path to zero carbon by the year 2050.

As an ‘initiating organization’ (along with other groups including the French government and the United Nations Environment Programme), Architecture 2030 helped set the agenda for the day, and Architecture 2030 Founder Edward Mazria will be delivering a key message and opening presentation titled “The 2 Degree Path for the Building Sector”.

Speakers at Buildings Day include Aisa Kirabo Kacyira, Deputy Executive Director of U.N. Habitat, Secretary-General Chen Zhen of the China Exploration & Design Association, Architecture Branch (a signatory of the China Accord), and the Mayors of Sydney, Warsaw, Lyon, and Tshwane, South Africa.

> Learn more about the UNFCCC Buildings Day
> Register for La Galerie to gain access to the event

Zero Emissions by 2050

Symposium on December 9, Fédération Française du Bâtiment, Paris (registration required)

Architecture 2030 is also organizing a major event at COP21, a Symposium focusing on the how-to of ensuring zero emissions in the built environment by the year 2050.

A high-level panel chaired by Farhana Yamin of Track 0 and featuring Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, and Rachel Kyte, World Bank Group Vice President & Special Envoy for Climate Change, will underline why the Paris talks must signal decarbonization of the global economy and built environment.

Edward Mazria will give a keynote presentation outlining the pathways, programs, and tools available to achieve this goal, and expert panels will address three key areas:

• City and district building initiatives
• Innovative building sector financing and building materials
• Innovative building design and planning tools

Bim World 2016 joins us as event organizers, with the support of Ptolémée, IPEEC, Track 0 and The Prince of Wales’s Corporate Leaders Group. Mediaconstruct, and batiactu are symposium partners.

> Visit the symposium website to learn more, and to register for the event

“The UNFCCC Climate Change conference will result in historic commitments and pledges to reduce emissions at national and sub-national levels. But these promises simply cannot be kept without engaging the building sector and transforming the built environment,” said Edward Mazria. “Paris affords us a unique opportunity to deliver an integrated and achievable path to zero emissions by 2050.”

Architecture 2030 is officially accredited for the UNFCCC Conference on Climate Change.