The American Institute of Architects and the US Green Building Council have condemned US president Donald Trump for his decision to pull out of the Paris Agreement, and have vowed to continue battling climate change.
In a public statement, the AIA said it opposes Trump's recent decision to withdraw the US as a signatory of the 2015 Paris Agreement ? an accord listing actions countries would voluntarily take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
America was one of 195 signatories of the accord, but Trump announced last week he was backing out of the agreement.
"The United States must remain a leader in the battle to cease harmful and needless practises that damage the planet and its climate, acting out of both environmental concerns and national economic interests," responded AIA president Thomas Vonier. "Instead of helping our economy, as the administration contends, withdrawing from the Paris Agreement will put us behind our major global competitors."
Vonier said the institute will continue its efforts toward energy conservation, the use of renewable resources in buildings and the curbing of "fuels and technologies that needlessly pollute our atmosphere and harm our environment".
"This makes good sense economically, and it is in the best interests of those we serve: our clients and the public," he stated.

Related story AIA issues apology after Trump support backlash

The organisa...