RAIC launches Climate Action Plan

Globally, buildings and construction account for about 37 per cent of all carbon emissions, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (2022).

“For over a century, the RAIC has championed design excellence in service of the public good. That commitment extends to meeting one of the greatest challenges of our time: the climate and biodiversity crises,” said Jonathan Bisson, FIRAC, president of the RAIC. “The Climate Action Plan reflects our responsibility to future generations and our unwavering dedication to leadership in climate-responsive architecture.”

To achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and maintain a 1.5-2°C pathway, by 2030, emissions must be cut in half by ensuring new buildings are net-zero energy ready and existing buildings are deeply decarbonized (including at least a 40 per cent reduction in embodied carbon). By 2050, the goal is to reach a net zero carbon-built environment, including embodied carbon, will require a focus on reusing and recycling.

The CAP is organized around four key priorities:

• Accelerating the transformation of practice.

• Advocating boldly to create pathways for change.

• Mobilizing partnerships and collaborative action.

• Investing in education and research.

Developed through two years of nationwide engagement with more than 800 contributors—including Indigenous Knowledge Holders, allied professionals, students, and community members—the CAP calls on architects to embed reconciliation, social justice, and holistic health into their climate action efforts.

“The urgency of the climate crisis demands bold, collective action,” said Mike Brennan, CEO of the RAIC. “The Climate Action Plan is both a call to action and a tool for transformation.”