News

Architects Declare has received a reply to our Letter to Government from the Rt. Hon. Kwasi Kwarteng, Minister of State at the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. We have continued the dialogue with the Minister in a detailed response, and again offered to arrange a meeting to discuss how we can support and collaborate with the government on the action required.

Architects Declare are looking for people to join a new Working Group to help us with current projects. One of these is a Practice Guide, addressing the declaration points, and we need help completing this work: research, writing, editing and design. We are also in the midst of working on responses to several public consultations on climate related matters. If you would like more information, please get in touch - [email protected]

We know that there have been vociferous debates in the media and between signatories recently concerning projects which may or may not be considered to be in conflict with the declaration. While we recognise that every project has a complex social, economic and ecological context beyond what is immediately evident, we are encouraged that these discussions are opening up the debate as to what is considered in keeping with the declaration and a severe emergency situation.

As we in the steering group have previously stated, we have a principle of not naming and shaming our colleagues in the industry. This is in part because we don’t have the mandate or resources to apply such scrutiny rigorously or fairly, and in part because the steering group sees its role to be acting as custodians of a shared declaration, not a judiciary. However, we believe that it is a success of this movement that the media and signatories are holding each other to account and pushing each other to do better.

The industry and every individual within it must make an enormous shift in order to help bring our society in line with planetary limits. This requires collective action and cross-practice debate. All practices that have signed the declaration have done so as a public statement that inevitably invites critique. We hope that these interactions remain supportive and collaborative as much as possible but we also recognise that the scale and urgency of the challenge will undoubtedly result in difficult conversations and decisions for us all.

We hope that the declaration and the coalition of signatories now totalling over 5000 practices globally provides a force for positive change in this urgent journey towards a regenerative built environment that addresses the climate and biodiversity crises head on.

Contractors Declare has now launched in the UK, following on from the launch of Builders Declare in Australia. All contractors and builders are encouraged to join. If you are outside the UK, and wish to start this declaration in your own country, please click here for details.

A green recovery is supported by the vast majority of the British population but today’s speech by the Prime Minister falls woefully short of what is required to stay within 1.5C of global heating. While we welcome investment that reduces inequality and improves health, it should be noted that even the president of the Automobile Association questions further road building now that millions of people have got used to home-working. It is reported that the Government proposes to spend £100 million on building roads - 10 times what is earmarked for rail – and this is clearly moving in the opposite direction. We support investment in public transport and renewable energy infrastructure and other measures to radically reduce our carbon emissions

The speech lacked specific commitments and made no clear reference to the £9.2bn Conservative manifesto pledge for renovating Britain’s draughty and unhealthy homes – this would create jobs, reduce fuel poverty, and help to meet legislated carbon targets. It is essential that this is given high priority. As leading construction professionals, we are ready and waiting to offer the practical expertise to deliver this and the necessary zero carbon buildings programme.

On the basis of this speech, the UK Government is failing to rise to the challenge of the climate emergency at the very time it should be showing global leadership in the build-up to the COP26 climate summit.

Architects Declare held our second global meeting with representatives from 19 'declared' countries discussing what's working from us all, challenges faced and how we can best work together.

UK Architects Declare statement:

The climate emergency disproportionately affects those already facing social injustices, and yet these are often the communities whose voices are often not listened to. Anti-racism is essential as part of climate justice. UK Architects Declare advocates for climate justice, and will be working with its signatories and the international Construction Declares groups to ensure this is an integral part of our initiatives going forward. We will amplify, listen to and support those who are working for climate justice.

Three new declarations have launched, bringing the number of countries involved with Architects Declare to 23. Finland, the US and the Czech Republic are now part of Construction Declares and will be a part of our ongoing strategy of how best to take action in relation to the Climate and Biodiversity Crisis.

We have been shortlisted in two categories at the AJ100 Awards this year. Steve Tompkins and Michael Pawlyn are joint contenders for the Sustainability Champion of the Year for the establishment of Architects Declare, which is also nominated for Sustainability Initiative of the Year. Also on the shortlist for Champion is Clara Bagenal-George, another AD steering group member, for her achievements with LETI. The ceremony will be held in September.

There are now over 5000 signatory practices across 6 built environment disciplines in 22 countries. Thank you to all who have signed up, seeking to follow the 11 declaration points.