News
October 14, 2021

Sasaki Signs on to Call for Governments to Reduce Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Government and business leaders from around the world will converge 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

The window of opportunity to take decisive action to limit global warming and avoid the worst impacts of climate change is closing. On October 6, 2021, Sasaki joined 80+ of the largest and most influential architectural, engineering, and construction firms and professional organizations in an open letter calling on government leaders to take action to remedy the effects of climate change.

Sasaki signed the 1.5°C COP26 Communiqué, a challenge spearheaded by Architecture 2030, that calls sovereign world governments to step up their commitments to reducing carbon emissions from the built environment to meet the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C carbon budget.

Together, our firms are responsible for over $300 billion in annual construction. With the built environment accounting for more than 40% of global carbon emissions, we must eliminate CO2 emissions—both embodied and operational—by 2040 to meet the 1.5°C target.

Sasaki joins the other signatories in our commitment to design and plan for 100% zero carbon, fossil-fuel free built environments. Together we are demanding governments do the same through smart policies and binding agreements.

“As architects and planners, we acknowledge that over half of global carbon emissions come from the built environment,” said Tamar Warburg, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Sasaki’s director of sustainability and resilience. “We have the opportunity to address climate change through our work: by continuing to plan and design projects that reduce operational and embodied carbon emissions, and advocate for environmentally responsible policy, codes, and regulations.”

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. As nations meet at COP26, they have the opportunity to commit to higher emissions reductions goals that align with the 1.50C target. The time for action is now.

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