DURBAN:

FROM COP 17 IN 2011 TO THE UIA CONGRESS IN 2014

The architects of the world were represented at the United Nations Convention on Climate Change, COP 17, in Durban, South Africa on 30 November 2011, by a delegation led by UIA President, Albert Dubler.

In 2009, at the Convention in Copenhagen, Denmark, COP 15, the UIA launched its Sustainable by Design Strategy, laying down the criteria for the professional requirements in each step of the elaboration of a construction or an urban development in order to guarantee viable, responsible and ecological solutions.

In Cancun, Mexico, in 2011, the UIA reinforced this strategy in a communication addressed to the governments present at Cop 16 and pronounced zero tolerance for all acts affecting architecture and planning that have a negative impact on the environment and climate.

During the UIA congress in Tokyo, in September 2011, 5 000 architects and students representing 100 nations signed a declaration, in the perspective of 2050, pledging to meet the challenges of a sustainable development of the environment, society and economy.

In Durban, the UIA reaffirmed the principles of responsible architectural design and with Durban 2014 on the horizon, it set the following objectives:

The right to responsible architecture, affordable and accessible to all

The right to an architecture that takes into account all forms of diversity

The right to an architecture that encourages well-being, social ties, dignity

and integrity

The right to a city designed for exchange and social bonding and not

exclusion.

The UIA will endeavour to highlight, in the various regions, countries, cities and communities, the innovations and exemplary realisations of architects, public authorities and local communities.