As important, all of the regional Architect Councils of Europe, Asia, the Americas and Africa also signed on to the declaration, something that is unparalleled in the 65-year history of the UIA.
The 2050 Imperative was initiated and drafted by Architecture 2030, then delivered subsequently by theAmerican Institute of Architects (AIA) to the UIA World Congress in Durban, South Africa. Australian Institute of Architects CEO David Parken, with support from UIA President Albert Dubler, guided the 2050 Imperative through a number of committees and introduced it onto the floor of the Congress where it was unanimously adopted on August 8.
The 2050 Imperative states that:
• failing to act now on climate change will put future generations, and those already affected by extreme weather, natural disasters, and poverty, at great risk;
• urban areas are responsible for over 70 per cent of global CO2 emissions, mostly from buildings;
• over the next two decades an area roughly equal to 60 per cent of the world’s building stock will be built and rebuilt in urban areas; and
• this provides an unprecedented opportunity to reduce fossil fuel CO2 emissions to zero by 2050.
The UIA is committed to influencing ethical and socially responsible development throughout the world. With the adoption of the Imperative, member organizations are charged with promoting the planning and design of carbon neutral cities, towns, urban developments, and new buildings, in order achieve the 2050 target.