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Architects react to President-elect Trump on Climate Change in an open letter

United States Architecture News - Jan 19, 2017 - 12:51   12922 views

Architects react to President-elect Trump on Climate Change in an open letter

American Architects make an urgent call for President-elect Donald Trump to take an immediate action on climate change in an open letter, signed by more than 250 American International Architecture firms on Monday.

Released by the Architects Advocate, Deborah Berke Partners, Snøhetta, Brooks + Scarpa, Circle West Architects and Fletcher Studio are among the signers to the open letter, which reminds architects' deep commitment to 'creating healthy, productive, and safe communities for all.'

In the letter, 229 Architecture firms, 24 Landscape Architecture firms, 21  Design + Consulting Industry Firms and 2 Organizations request some major points; the first is investment in renewable energy sources, the second is levelling subsidies for renewable energy technologies, and the third is continued participation in the historic Paris Climate Agreement.

American Architects particularly see as 'American prosperity is at risk' and they claim that architects' first mission is to take into account climate change to 'provide economically viable, socially equitable, and environmentally sustainable world and communities'.

The letter puts forward Trump's policies he said throughout the election period and reminds his stance once more on climate change. The letter notes that ''action on climate change is supported across party lines by significant majorities of Americans, including the military and leaders of industry, faith, science, and education.''

''Because buildings alone account for almost 40% of total U.S. energy use and 72% percent of U.S. electricity use, America’s architects are on the front line addressing climate change in a meaningful way.''

This letter is not the first reaction to Trump's policies from the architecture community-The American Institute of Architects (AIA) released a statement in November, saying 89,000 members of AIA are committed to working with President-elect Trump to address the issues our country faces, particularly strengthening the nation’s ageing infrastructure. The letter was released by Chief Executive Officer Robert Ivy. 

In response to Ivy's letter, the Organization of the Equity Alliance reacted to Robert Ivy' letter and reminded the core values of AIA. After that, American architect and urbanist Michael Sorkin, founder of Terreform, released a detailed statement by evaluating Trump's Presidency as clear danger to Profession and Sorkin said ''Trump presidency represents a clear and present danger to many values that are fundamental to both our nation and our profession.'' 

Donald Trump will move to his new office on January 20, 2017. 

Read the full text of the open letter by Architects Advocate below:

President-elect Trump,

As American architects, we are dedicated to creating healthy, productive, and safe communities for all. We are committed to doing so in a way that is economically viable, socially equitable, and environmentally sustainable. In these communities, families and businesses thrive.

Throughout our great history we have always depended on the natural environment. It has nurtured us and has enabled vast freedom, growth, innovation, and profit. Today we are already experiencing the potentially irreversible negative impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss. American prosperity is at risk. Our children and grandchildren face the real possibility of our country and world in turmoil.

Because buildings alone account for almost 40% of total U.S. energy use and 72% percent of U.S. electricity use, America’s architects are on the front line addressing climate change in a meaningful way. Action on climate change is supported across party lines by significant majorities of Americans, including the military and leaders of industry, faith, science, and education.

By taking decisive action now we all can be remembered as historic and courageous actors who helped secure humanity’s future. We can turn our climate challenge into an unrivaled economic opportunity that creates desirable and healthy jobs in rural and urban communities alike.

We invest in a clean and competitive U.S. economy that is powered by renewable energy through cost-effective and innovative solutions. This creates jobs and lowers the costs of living and doing business.

We stand up to the influence of special interest money in politics to create a truly level playing field. Subsidies for renewable energy technologies should be equal to the many hidden and costly subsidies that support fossil fuels and nuclear energy. Alternatively, all subsidies across all energy sources should be removed in their entirety.

We re-affirm America’s commitment to addressing climate change through the continued participation in the historic Paris Climate Agreement.

We invite you to join our commitment to developing healthy and prosperous communities, and to designing and building the great America that future generations deserve.

Together, we can ensure our children and grandchildren will remember us with pride.

Signed,

229  Architecture Firms

24  Landscape Architecture Firms

21  Design + Consulting Industry Firms

2  Organizations

See the full signatories on Architects Advocate

Top image courtesy of Odyssey

> via Architects Advocate