Architects can prevent the worst effects of climate change by deciding to design and build to net-zero carbon standards, argues Edward Mazria, architect and founder of non-profit organisation Architecture 2030.

Architecture 2030 is calling on all architects, planners, engineers and those responsible for designing and constructing the built environment worldwide to design all new buildings, renovations, landscapes, cityscapes and infrastructure to be zero carbon beginning right now.
If we act together today, we prevent the worst effects of climate change. Our calling is, and has always been, to make the world a better place. Now we get the chance to do it on a global scale and help protect life on the planet. If we act together now, we change the world. Almost 15 years ago, in 2007, I was sitting next to doctor James Hansen at the Architecture 2030 Global Emergency Teach-in and asked him: "When will we begin to see the actual effects of global warming""
He leaned over and whispered: "At about one degree Celsius warming". Today, I checked NASA?s "Vital Signs of the Planet" website and sure enough, the planet is currently at 1.02 degrees Celsius warming above pre-industrial levels.
The time for half measures and outdated timelines is over
As I write this, ??the IPCC just released an alarming report on the state of the climate crisis, and brutal heat waves, droughts, deadly flooding and fires are shattering records all over the planet and cu...