The leadership of the American Institute of Architects organization has officially signed off on an ambitious climate agenda that was proposed during the organization's annual meeting in Las Vegas. 

The so-called "Resolution for Urgent and Sustained Climate Action," introduced at the meeting by Betsy del Monte, an architect with Dallas-based Cameron MacAlister, aims to "prioritize and support urgent climate action to exponentially accelerate the 'decarbonization' of buildings, the building sector, and the built environment." 

In addition, del Monte's resolution aims to craft new revisions to the AIA's collection of Public Policies and Position Statements in an effort to "engage its full membership, clients, lawmakers, and communities in a multi-year education, practice, and advocacy strategy."

Remarking on the organization's official ratification of the climate resolution, 2019 AIA President William Bates, wrote in a press release, “This is a defining moment for the Institute,” adding, “We are making this our top priority in order to address the crisis our communities face. Moving the needle on this critical issue—that threatens the future of our planet and humanity—requires our firm commitment to achieving carbon neutral goals in the built environment and our immediate action. It’s imperative that the industry acts today.”  

AIA's adoption of the climate resolution comes as architects around the world sign on to climate-related emergency declarations. 

In July, the Royal Institute of British Architects signed on to an international climate emergency declaration. British architects were joined last month by UK-based architectural educators who are urging changes to architectural education that prioritize meaningful responses to the climate crisis. Architects in Australia have also joined the international climate emergency declaration, writing, "the research and technology exist for us to begin that transformation now, but what has been lacking is collective will."