FUTUREPROOF

Climate Action and Resilience

This theme explores ways in which architecture can create a more resilient and sustainable future.

Concept

FUTUREPROOF explores ways in which architecture can create a more resilient and sustainable future. Any effective response to climate change needs to be able to reduce the demand for diminishing resources and to respond flexibly to the changing environment. An integrated design solution that both mitigates and adapts to climate change is most effective.

Many aspects of the built environment, which encompasses transportation infrastructure, building construction and operation, and land-use, contribute to climate change. If designed well, however, the built environment can also contribute positively to climate adaptation. Responses developed and implemented now might mitigate the climate disaster and a global battle for an inclusive and sustainable living environment. An international shift in politics, policies and planning objectives is essential to keep the consumption of natural resources within the regenerative capacity of ecosystems and planetary boundaries and to reduce the impact of urban life.

Further, designers need to consider the scale of individual, city, nation and globe in their work to imagine more resilient solutions in the face of the many challenges brought on by climate hange, which include weather-related events such as droughts and floods, health-related events such as Covid-19, economic effects such as rising food prices, and societal conditions such as mass migrations.