AILA DECLARES CLIMATE & BIODIVERSITY LOSS EMERGENCY
29 Aug 2019
AILA has declared a Climate & Biodiversity Loss Emergency for Australia that will see the association increase efforts to work with agencies to bring about change. Read the full declaration.
The declaration from The Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) comes in response to the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report that stated humanity has just 12 years to restrict global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
"AILA has declared this emergency to add further focus and attention to the issues the planet is facing,” said AILA President, Shaun Walsh. "Advocating for more action on climate change isn’t a new thing for AILA but we feel it is important we add to the voice of other organisations and groups who have made similar declarations. We know that our members are passionate about the topic and we’re reiterating that we have a significant role to play in causing change.
“The response to the declaration requires a collective approach. AILA will increase work with members, government and non-government agencies to accelerate the broad community needed in response to this issue.
“We all need to take an immediate and proactive look at what else we can do. Not enough action has been taken to date."
AILA’s Declaration includes an action plan that commits to providing more leadership to better support the profession in order to address this issue.
“It is a massive task but I think our members and other landscape architects across the globe are up to the challenge of working with governments and the community to take immediate action."
AILA made the announcement just weeks after releasing its Green Infrastructure Position Statement, which called on non-government agencies, industry organisations and governments at all levels to make significant progress towards improving the liveability and sustainability of urban and regional settlements through Green Infrastructure.
