AIA is one of the best kept secrets in fighting climate change at COP28

For the third year in a row, AIA is sending representatives to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), an annual Conference that brings together government officials and nongovernmental organizations to collaborate on ways to combat the climate crisis. AIA is attending the 2023 event, taking place from November 30- December 12 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in an official capacity as an NGO observer.

Illya Azaroff, FAIA, Director of Design, Resilience and Regenerative Strategies at +LAB Architect PLLC, will be attending COP28 again, after traveling to last year’s conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. His mission remains steadfast: ensuring that architects have a seat at the table when it comes to combatting the scourge of climate change.

“Architects haven’t really been at the table at COP, even though we are addressing climate change in our ethos, and we stand for sustainability, resilience, equity, and health,” said Azaroff. “I think we made inroads at COP27, having meetings with the United Nations and other major players. I think those inroads showed the value of AIA and what we represent.”

Azaroff, who will be attending the first week of the two-week conference, plans to “demonstrate what architects can do” by showcasing work that AIA members have accomplished to key players attending the conference.

“It’s important that the organization is there because architects must be considered in a fight for a better planet,” he said. “I’d love to ensure that we’re there at the table when agreements are being written. We understand better than most the complexities of these issues. Everything about communities, lifelines to communities, supply chains, those are all part of these conversations that crosscut every facet of global existence through Sustainable Development Goals.”

New perspectives

While Azaroff’s experience at COP will be an asset to AIA, the organization also finds immense value in bringing new perspectives and unique sets of eyes to the conference. Enter Erika Eitland, MPH, ScD, Co-Director of the Human Experience Lab at Perkins & Will. She posits that her dedication to climate change issues is the foundation of her whole career.

While a student at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, Eitland found herself immersed in the architecture school and recognized the crossover between the two disciplines.

“I found it critical to be thinking about climate adaptation and how buildings are the most urgent climate adaptation strategy that we have,” Eitland said. “For my PhD I focused on K-12 educational spaces and how buildings impact the health, thinking and performance of our students. How do green school buildings help our students and who gets access to these?”

She soon landed at Perkins & Will, where she embeds public health research into projects at the firm and helps “democratize” research and information to relevant stakeholders and the public at-large.

With much of her work focused on protecting vulnerable populations through design, Eitland anticipates “listening with humility” at COP28, but also asking questions about what the discussions mean for the people that occupy spaces.

“I want to be in absorption phase. I’m hoping to bring a public health lens to built environment work, but I also want to help find potential partners for AIA,” she said. “I want to understand how we can advance building design, what are the tools we need outside of architects? How are people navigating these pressures and barriers that seem insurmountable? If that work is being shared, learning those lessons is critical so we can address that with urgency.”

Time in Dubai

In addition to Azaroff and Eitland, AIA delegates at COP28 include 2023 President Emily Grandstaff-Rice, FAIA; Lakisha Ann Woods, CAE, EVP/Chief Executive Officer; Vicky Schneider, Senior Advisor; Lisa Ferretto, Sr. Director, Climate Action and Design Excellence; and Derek Washam, Sr. Director, Sr. Director, Global & Industry Engagement. Additionally, two members of AIA Middle East will be in attendance on behalf of the organization: Li Ren, AIA, Project Architect at Perkins Eastman and Stephanie Kinnick, AIA, Director of Operations at Gensler Middle East.

AIA’s official United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change side event is called Design Thinking, Global Standards, & Integrative Solutions for a Net Zero Built Environment and takes place on December 8. Grandstaff-Rice will be speaking at the panel.

This panel, put together in collaboration with ASHRAE, Australian Forest Products Association, RIBA, and EPD International looks at how design thinking can offer integrated solutions for equitable and resilient zero-carbon communities.

Additionally, Grandstaff-Rice and Woods will provide opening remarks at the AIA and Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) COP28 Reception on Thursday Dec. 7 that will serve as a networking reception a celebration of the renewal of AIA and RIBA’s Memorandum of Understanding recognizing our shared objectives and desire to support the architecture practice, professional growth, and the development of their respective members in areas of mutual interest and concern: to advance the profession of architecture globally; to promote sustainable and equitable design.

“Opportunities come up quickly,” said Eitland. “I want to be responsive and willing to share. I would love to influence where health comes up in these conversations and I look forward to doing that at COP28. To be there in person and share in these relationships and share these bonds, is special. So much of this climate work is about leadership and creating relationships. I’m excited to be around this group of very committed people who are trying to make change on a global scale. People are hopeful, those human connections are important.”

Azaroff agrees that events like COP28 do a lot of good when it comes to connecting prominent stakeholders and allows organizations like AIA to provide expertise to world leaders.

“AIA is one of the best kept secrets globally. We’re a sleeping giant with 96,000 plus dedicated members who are working hard at climate action,” he said. “We can add value to this fight. Who better to coalesce around these topics addressing the wicked problems of our time? I jumped at the chance to continue making connections and pushing forward our membership as leaders because it’s important to me.”