Date Posted: 10.12.2021
Mithun has joined with leading architecture, landscape architecture, planning, engineering and construction firms and organizations from around the world in committing to the Paris Agreement’s 1.5oC target, and challenging governments to do the same through the 1.5oC COP26 Communiqué.
Buildings are the largest source of the world’s carbon emissions globally and account for approximately 40% of total emissions. When accounting for the embodied carbon of building interiors, systems and associated infrastructure, that percentage is substantially higher. Decarbonizing the built environment is therefore essential if we are not to exceed the 1.5oC target.
THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW
“Mithun stands with the community of designers and builders to create a lower carbon world. For decades, we have actively and urgently engaged in decarbonization and regenerative strategies, from joining the Chicago Climate Exchange in 2004 to the development of one of the first embodied carbon calculators in 2007. Leading with an integrated design approach, we are helping our clients maximize decarbonization with holistic thinking, from early concept carbon analysis through to post occupancy evaluations,” says Hilary Noll, sustainability integration leader at Mithun. “Impacts of the climate crisis are already affecting vulnerable communities and ecosystems and the time to act is now.”
“We pledge to meet the 1.5°C carbon target by incorporating regenerative carbon strategies for all elements of the built environment. This reduction is technically within reach but requires a new era of collaborative design and carbon economics. Members of the building industry have stepped up to address climate—it’s time for governments to do their part to establish clear targets to further advance this work industry-wide.”
ABOUT THE COP26 COMMUNIQUÉ
Government and business leaders from around the world will be converging at the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, October 31 – November 12 to discuss the continued cooperation among nations to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and the threat of climate change. To ensure global warming does not exceed 1.5oC and avoid the worst impacts of climate change, scientists tell us that we must reduce carbon emissions from all sectors, including the built environment, 50% – 65% by 2030 and fully decarbonize by 2040. Those that design, build and regulate the construction of buildings hold tremendous power and potential to reduce a significant portion of the world’s carbon emissions.
Learn more: https://cop26communique.org/
