Speakers at a climate summit organised by Architects Declare and RIBA last week called on architects to take responsibility for decarbonising their buildings, rather than blaming clients and the lack of regulations.
Instead, they should actively lobby lawmakers, turn down projects and materials that contribute to climate change and challenge clients rather than prioritising profit at all costs, according to speakers at the Built Environment Summit.
"We have a duty and, most importantly, the skills" to have these "more uncomfortable conversations", said Andrew Forth, interim director of policy and public affairs at RIBA.
"It's not the time to be neutral about the fate of the planet," added environmental lawyer Farhana Yamin. Otherwise, architects are merely "enablers of business as usual". "Our role is not just to service whatever clients want, it's also to educate clients and educate ourselves," Yamin said.
Maria Smith of engineering firm Buro Happold agreed that built environment professionals "need to make sure that the conversation goes beyond 'it's not my problem, it's your problem'".
Built environment lagging behind other industries
The Built Environment Summit, organised by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and climate action group Architects Declare, took place last week ahead of the COP26 conference.
The two-day event invited architects, engineers, contractors and developers to examine what t...