Architecture’s concerns - and hopes - for our climate future

An industry survey has found Australian architects are worried about the climate crisis and frustrated by barriers to action but are confident the profession can contribute to a sustainable future. Key findings: - 93% of architecture practitioners are concerned or very concerned about climate change 95% say architects should be part of the solution for climate change issues 79% indicated that their workplaces are actively involved in sustainable practices 86% felt confident applying passive design principles, 26% were confident with whole life cycle assessment, and only 22% with applying Indigenous care for Country - Dr Liz Brogden from The University of Queensland's School of Architecture, Design and Planning coordinated a cross-institutional research group Architecture Climate Futures to survey 899 practitioners working in architecture in late 2022. "We asked practitioners about their perceptions of the climate crisis, what they and their practice were doing about it and their hopes for the future of the profession," Dr Brogden said. The results showed that those working in Australian architectural firms want to see more done to address climate change. "This includes policy and regulation reforms, increasing professional support and CPD resources, and stronger climate advocacy across the profession," Dr Brogden said. "Given that the built environment contributes up to 40% of carbon emissions, architects feel a strong sense of responsibility when it comes to climate change, with the crisis generating an increasingly multifaceted role for them to fill." Eighty-two percent of respondents said there were barriers to achieving sustainable design outcomes in practice.