The UIA was represented at COP24 – that took place on 2-14 December 2018 – by the UIA Sustainable Development Commission, Ishtiaque Zahir Titas, Natalie Mossin, Annette Blegvad, and Council Member Jerzy Grochulski.
Ishtiaque Zahir Titas took part in a panel discussion at the ‘Smart City and eco-development’ session of the European Economic Congress Green, where he presented the UIA vision of the ways in which architects can help find solutions to the evermore-pressing issue of climate change. His presentation incorporated UIA President Thomas Vonier’s call to action, which emphasizes that, although “the built environment is part of the problem, it is also a crucial part of the solution”.
The UIA Sustainable Development Commission also held the official launch of a new UIA SDG publication: a booklet featuring a selection of case studies exemplifying architecture’s contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Alf Karlsson, Swedish State Secretary to the Minister for Housing and Digital Development, gave the opening remarks, during which he stressed that “Architecture is a tool to create good sustainable societies”.
The next edition will take place in Santiago de Chile in Chile.