Norman Foster has withdrawn his architecture firm from Architects Declare, lead in an industry commitment on climate change.
… Architects Declare…. called on any members not committed to ending ‘business as usual’ to leave the group…
… Foster called for a “sense of proportion and serious consideration of the facts”…
The Guardian writes:
One of the UK’s most famous architects has withdrawn from an environmental coalition in a dispute about the destructive role of aviation in the escalating climate crisis.
Norman Foster, best known for the Swiss Re “Gherkin” skyscraper and City Hall mayoral headquarters in London, confirmed on Wednesday his firm was no longer a member of the Architects Declare group.
The decision follows a row over Foster and Partners’ work on airports around the world – seen by critics as incompatible with tackling the climate and ecological emergency.
Last week Architects Declare, which was set up two years ago to coordinate climate action in the sector, called on any members not committed to ending “business as usual” to leave the group.
“There remain signatory practices who appear determined to continue with business as usual,” it said in a statement…..
In his statement Foster called for a “sense of proportion and serious consideration of the facts” when discussing aviation’s impact on the climate crisis, pointing out aviation emissions account for 2% of the global total.
He added: “If carbon imprints are properly taxed, then it may mean a reset for fast food and cheap flights but agriculture and aviation are not going to go away and they will both need the most sustainable buildings to serve them together with the architects who can most responsibly design them.”….
