Last week, UN climate champion Nigel Topping claimed that architects have been slow to sign up to its net-zero carbon emissions programme. This "unfairly presented architects and top firms in a negative light," writes 2021 AIA Gold Medal winner Edward Mazria.

Why haven't architects joined the Race to Zero" The answer will surprise you.
The Dezeen article "Architecture 'one of the least well-represented businesses' in UN's net-zero push" unfairly presented architects and top firms in a negative light ? as "dragging their heels" and lacking real ambition in addressing climate change.
According to Nigel Topping, the UN's climate champion, architects are failing to engage with the UN's drive to reduce carbon emissions as none of the 50 largest firms have signed up to its Race to Zero campaign, the United Nations initiative to get companies to commit to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Nigel is disingenuous for the following reasons.
First, the Race to Zero ? achieving net-zero emissions by or before 2050 ? is neither highly ambitious nor providing the leadership needed at this critical time.
A good probability of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius equates to CO2 emissions reductions of 65 per cent by 2030, and zero by 2040, not by 2050 as stated in the Race to Zero and illustrated in the following graphic:
Graphic showing reduction in emissions needed to meet 1.5 degrees Celsius target
Net-zero emissions by 2050 means giving up on l...