As climate change reshapes our world, how should we rebuild it?
Architect Grace Coulter Sherlock and associate professor in architecture at the University of Calgary Joshua Taron explored this topic in depth at the Alberta Association of Architects’ Banff Session 2024 event.
Theirs was one of several presentations shown to hundreds of architects, interior designers, and academics. Together, they had gathered to critically examine how green building could be explored through the lenses of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Grace and Joshua’s presentation, “Inclusive Climate Action and its Application as a Model for Rebuilding Sustainable Canadian Cities”, discussed how inclusivity could alleviate the climate burdens that diverse and marginalized communities unevenly face.
According to their research, between $11 and $22 trillion will need to be invested by 2057 for Canadian cities to continue delivering their current levels of service in the context of climate change. However, while rethinking cities’ environmental, social and economic resiliency can generate capital benefits, it may also have uneven access levels and payoffs.
That’s why they argued that inclusive climate action policies, practices and projects could ensure that inclusivity, sustainability, and justice are part of the design process.
Our thanks to Grace and Joshua for their extensive research and valuable contribution to such a vital conversation!
Want to read further on this topic? Learn about how brownfields can become greenfields by adaptively reusing and recycling industrial land.
