Edward Mazria on What’s Next after COP26
The building sector is on the cusp of helping change the course of the planet. Despite the seemingly grim news out of Glasgow, there's been an entire mindset shift and when that happens, you know big changes are in the air.
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CarbonPositive: Building on the Best of COP26
Though the U.N. Climate Change Conference left much to be desired, it did reveal opportunities for the design and planning community, writes Architecture 2030 delegate and 2018 AIA president Carl Elefante.
Read MoreEdward Mazria on What’s Next After COP26
"The building sector is on the cusp of helping change the course of the planet. Despite the seemingly grim news out of Glasgow, there's been an entire mindset shift and when that happens, you know big changes are in the air."
Read More
COP26 Official Side Event
The Architecture 2030 and ASHRAE official COP26 Side Event took place at COP in Glasgow, featuring the 1.5°C COP26 Communiqué and select signatory organizations.
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COP26 Week 1 Report: Catharsis or Not, We Are Moving Forward Together
Catharsis or not, we are moving forward together.
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COP26 Report: G20 Summit Struggles, RIBA Built Environment Summit & Events, COP26
G20 Summit Struggles, RIBA Built Environment Summit & Events, COP26
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CarbonPositive: Architecture’s Critical Role at COP26
Read why Architecture 2030 president Vincent Martinez says the forthcoming U.N. Climate Change Conference of the Parties is of particular significance to the building sector.
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In February UN Secretary-General António Guterres boldly declared 2021 the “make or break year” for the planet as a recent UNFCCC report found the 2030 emissions-reduction pledges of 75 countries to be wholly inadequate to achieve 1.5°C targets.
The Significance of COP26
In order to retain a good probability (67% chance or better) of avoiding more than 1.5ºC of warming (a budget of 340-400 GTCO2), we must reduce carbon emissions from all sectors, including the built environment, by 50%-65% by 2030, and zero CO2 emissions by 2040.
Government and business leaders from around the world will be converging at the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP 26) in Glasgow Oct. 31 – Nov. 12 to discuss the continued cooperation among nations to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and the threat of climate change, and establish new 2030 emissions reduction targets.
In 2015 Architecture 2030 led in highlighting the critical role of the built environment at COP21. This November, we will be back at COP26 where we will continue to the emphasize for all assembled governments and NGOs how crucial the built environment will be in achieving 1.5°C targets, and remind them that the time for bold moves is right now, while we still have a chance to cut emissions and stay within the 1.5°C carbon budget.
The 1.5°C COP26 Communiqué
On Oct. 6, 2021, leaders from the world’s largest and most influential architectural, engineering, and construction firms and professional organizations issued the 1.5°C COP26 Communiqué – a challenge to sovereign world governments to step up their commitments to reduce carbon emissions from the built environment to meet the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C carbon budget.
The challenge was issued just weeks before the start of the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) on Oct. 31st, where governments will be negotiating and setting new emissions reduction targets. Currently, none of the world’s major economies have a climate plan that would meet their obligations under the Paris Agreement.
The building industry is committed to meeting the Paris Agreement target, and are demanding world governments do the same. Below are resources for the media and public to learn more about the 1.5°C COP26 Communiqué and its signatories.
