In an era of rapid change and upheaval, with climate change ever-present as “the most systemic threat to humankind” 1, we rely on catalysing collective action to minimise adverse and permanent impacts of ecological breakdown. To achieve this, climate scientists urge us to take radical action to prevent global warming exceeding 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels by the end of this century.

Limiting global warming to 1.5°C will be challenging—it will require rapid and far-reaching transitions at an unprecedented rate and scale—and it will rely on the global economy reaching net zero carbon by 2050 (Global Warming of 1.5°C, IPCC, 2018); with the built environment sector needing to transition to net zero carbon in 2030. This reality demands that we reassess the building and construction industry’s capacity to respond effectively to this overarching challenge—which also requires the re-evaluation of the knowledge and skills that are needed, both globally and locally.

A group of leading industry professionals—called the Cross-Industry Action Group—(who are representing different disciplines and organisations) have come together with the mission to unite the industry and academia in upskilling and building collective capacity for climate action. In this united effort, the Group’s first output—Climate Framework—aims to break down silos and establish a common ground, define a common language and create a comprehensive knowledge base and skills that will be equally relevant for those in academia and those in practice, in order to equip current and future generations of professionals with the competence and confidence required to deliver on the 1.5°C ambition.

Please join us at the official launch of the Climate Framework.

The online event log-in details will be shared with all the attendees 2 days prior to the event, via email.

Speakers:

Mina Hasman, Climate Framework Cross-Industry Action Group Lead & Associate Director, Sustainability Lead, SOM (Europe)

Alan Jones, President, Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)

Justin Sullivan, Deputy Chair, Construction Industry Council (CIC)

Victoria Kate Burrows, Director, Advancing Net Zero, World Green Building Council (WorldGBC)

Fionn Stevenson, Chair in Sustainable Design, The University of Sheffield, School of Architecture