The Getting to Zero National Forum in Washington, DC, is just 11 days away and we are excited to share that as part of his opening keynote on Feb. 2, Edward Mazria of Architecture 2030 will present The Urban Climate Initiative, a framework of incremental building sector actions that state and local governments can put in place to ensure 80 x 50 emissions reductions. That’s eighty percent CO2 emissions reduction in the built environment by the year 2050.
The Initiative’s primary tools are fundamental building construction intervention points, building energy conservation codes, and renewable energy applications. When fully executed, the actions outlined will save property owners and building occupants energy and money, as well as create thousands of local clean energy and construction jobs.
The Urban Climate Initiative provided the blueprint for New York Mayor Bill de Blasio’s 80 x 50 announcement during Climate Week NYC 2014 last September.
“Climate change is an existential threat to New Yorkers and our planet. Acting now is nothing short of a moral imperative,” said Mayor de Blasio last fall. “New York City must continue to set the pace and provide the bold leadership that’s needed – and becoming the world’s largest city to commit to an 80 percent reduction in emissions by 2050 is central to that commitment. By retrofitting all of our public buildings with significant energy use in the next ten years, we’re leading by example; and by partnering with the private sector, we’ll reduce emissions and improve efficiency while generating billions in savings and creating thousands of jobs for New Yorkers who need it most,” he said.
Copies of The Urban Climate Initiative will available at the keynote presentation.