Climate change is no longer an anomaly but a pervasive crisis, manifesting through extreme weather events like heat waves, wildfires, floods, and droughts.

This environmental strain overwhelms outdated infrastructure and endangers lives due to failures in buildings and equipment not designed for such extremes. 

However, there is optimism as the built environment is increasingly adapting to mitigate these impacts. 

Significant strides include a 31% drop in CO2 emissions from buildings in both the U.S. and EU since 2005, driven by low-carbon designs and upgrades. The shift to cleaner electricity is notable, with nearly half of U.S. electricity now from non-CO2 sources and global PV investments hitting $500 billion in 2024. 

Public support for stronger climate action is robust, with 80% of people worldwide advocating for increased government measures. This momentum reflects a critical opportunity for architects and planners to lead in creating resilient, carbon-neutral environments.