Online debate | Climate justice: The role of the built environment

An event jointly organised by the Edge and the refereed journal, Buildings & Cities to discuss climate justice in the built environment

Climate change will disproportionately affect low income, socially and economically marginalised communities, individuals suffering from chronic diseases or social isolation, older and young people and other vulnerable populations due to their limited ability to adapt, cope and recover. In addition, some mitigation and adaptation programmes may even magnify existing vulnerabilities or create new ones for marginalised people. Such communities need Climate Justice.

The effect of climate change on the built environment will exacerbate pre-existing inequalities and inequities, due to factors such as; excess indoor temperatures and heat stress, flood risk, fuel poverty, indoor and outdoor air pollution exposure, contaminated water etc.

This event will explain what climate justice is and why it is a significant issue for decision-makers in the built environment. It will identify processes that can be used to avoid locking-in inequities and injustices in planning, urban design and building design and retrofit.

Key findings will be presented from a recent special issue of the refereed journal, Buildings & Cities.

Several urgent questions arise about how we can "do no harm" through policy and practice:

• How can climate injustices in the built environment be readily identified?
• Who has specific responsibilities and jurisdiction to address the identified vulnerabilities and externalities?
• What forms of justice can be used to address these concerns?
• What are actionable approaches for professionals, clients and local government to address climate injustices?
• How might climate justice be integrated into existing planning, design and procurement decision processes?
• What capacity building is needed for professionals? How can this link to existing initiatives by professional institutes and NGOs?

Convenor: Richard Lorch, the Edge and Editor, Buildings & Cities
Speakers: Anna Mavrogianni, University College London
                    Sonja Klinsky, Arizona State University
                    Isabella Krabbe, Royal Town Planning Institute
                    Faye Wade, University of Edinburgh

To attend, please register here