AIA commends the Biden-Harris administration on zero emission goals for the building industry

Washington – September 29, 2023 – The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has long acknowledged the urgency of the climate crisis and is excited to continue its support of the Biden-Harris Administration in its efforts to aggressively drive zero emissions goals for buildings.

The announcement from the Biden-Harris Administration reflects a long-standing commitment of AIA to engage its full membership, clients, communities, policymakers at all levels of government, professional organizations, and the public to achieve actionable climate strategy and meet aggressive climate goals. In 2019, AIA membership passed, and the AIA Board of Directors endorsed, the Resolution for Urgent and Sustained Climate Action, providing a framework for AIA to prioritize and support urgent climate action to exponentially accelerate emissions reductions across all building portfolios.

Before and after that historic resolution by AIA members, AIA has held a commitment to climate action through a multi-year strategy for education, practice, advocacy, and outreach. AIA strongly endorses the Biden-Harris Administration’s zero emission goals as it reinforces the climate action AIA and its membership continue to champion through industry-leading initiatives such as the AIA Framework for Design Excellence, adding voluntary Zero Energy model code to the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code, establishing the CEO Partnership on Climate and Equity and introducing the AIA Climate Action Plan. This builds on the AIA 2030 Commitment which has long been in place to rapidly address existing climate challenges and the Architecture & Design Materials Pledge which acknowledges that architects and designers can support the reduction of embodied emissions impacts of building materials through their influence.

“AIA has always been committed to facilitating and engaging in productive climate and equity issue engagement, impacting our respective members and communities. Architects are in a prime position to help achieve zero emissions goals and we have expressed to the Biden-Harris Administration that we will we continue to be ardent partners in expanding the reach of our work through industry collaboration with members, policymakers, and communities,” said Lakisha Ann Woods, CAE, AIA EVP and Chief Executive Officer.

From AIA’s leadership to its members and beyond, AIA continues to work to advance emissions reduction policies and architectural practice modernization to benefit the built environment and the health, safety, and welfare of the public.

AIA remains committed to working in concert with the Biden-Harris Administration, as we have in the past on critical climate policy issues. We are in full agreement that addressing these objectives is urgent to meet our jointly shared climate goals and commend the continued work.