I recently joined American Society of Landscape Architects President Eugenia Martin, FASLA, and hundreds of other global leaders in landscape architecture in Gwangju, South Korea, at the International Federation of Landscape Architects World Council Meeting. IFLA represents landscape architects worldwide, with 77 member associations worldwide, including ASLA in the United States.
The time together is a reaffirmation that the global community of landscape architects shares the goals of promoting and diversifying the profession, setting high professional standards, and exchanging knowledge and the most good works across cultures and communities.
One of my big takeaways from the gathering was that advocacy and education efforts for landscape architecture at the national, regional, and local levels are critical. As a profession, landscape architecture remains largely misunderstood by policy makers and cities around the world. In response, to better understand the work of landscape architects around the world, IFLA partnered with the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB) to launch a global survey of the profession. I believe that engaging with decision makers at every level of government and having more landscape architects elected or appointed to public office should be a central strategy to influence how our cities are designed. community, how projects are prioritized, and how funding is allocated.
In my speeches at the IFLA World Council, I discussed the important role of advocacy in our industry, and I shared ASLA’s perspective and influence on two major pieces of federal legislation: the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
As a profession, landscape architecture remains largely misunderstood by policy makers and cities around the world.
When Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), we at ASLA quickly promoted the allocation of funds for projects that landscape architects were qualified to lead. Landscape architects can help balance the built environment from ‘carbon-neutral’ to carbon-positive, which is what we need for a truly sustainable future.
There is no doubt that the IRA’s climate change provision will transform our economy into a cleaner one, as evidenced by the $30 billion in production tax credits to accelerate U.S. solar manufacturing. panels, wind turbines, batteries, and critical mineral processing. It also allocated another $30 billion in tax credits for clean electricity sources and energy storage and provided targeted grant and loan programs for states and electric utilities to accelerate the transition to of clean electricity.
And especially important for landscape architects and professionals in related fields, the IRA identifies and funds landscape architecture approaches to address climate change – from active transportation projects such as recreational trails in large, urban metros to nature-based water infrastructure, community tree planting, and ecosystems. restoration. In addition, the legislation takes significant steps to advance environmental and climate justice by ensuring that underserved communities receive resources to adapt to a changing climate.
Some of the programs and projects traditionally spearheaded by landscape architects, such as active transportation infrastructure, include the $3 billion Neighborhood Access and Equity Grant Program that helps improve walkability, safety, and affordable access. of transportation through projects that are “context sensitive. .” In other words, landscape architects can build or develop complete streets, multi-use paths, regional paths, active transportation networks or provide affordable access to important places. destinations, public spaces, transportation links and hubs. This grant program will eliminate high-speed and other transportation projects and facilities that are connectivity barriers within communities, as well as removing transportation projects and facilities that are sources of air pollution, noise pollution, storm water, or other burdens on underserved communities. Solutions may include natural infrastructure, permeable or porous pavement, or protective features to reduce or manage stormwater run-off and even heat island mitigation projects.
Landscape architects can help balance the built environment from ‘carbon-neutral’ to carbon-positive, which is what we need for a truly sustainable future.
As we know, the IPCC report released earlier this year stated that efforts to integrate the environment in cities should be the backbone of future urban development and planning to improve the sustainability of those climate impact.
So now, with confidence, we can tell our political leaders and legislators that it is wise and important to bring a landscape architect to the beginning of a development project because they can analyze the conditions to determine the best way to orient buildings, water sources, and protect the natural resources we need for future stability.
Landscape architects consider how all the pieces of a community “puzzle” fit together because they see how entire communities can be designed as a holistic system to reduce energy use and vehicle emissions. Frankly, housing emissions are not easily separated from transportation emissions, which account for a third of the world’s total emissions.
We also found that investing in tree canopies not only mitigates against rising heat levels but also supports community-wide efforts to reduce energy use. And why is it important? We see that communities full of concrete and asphalt – and planned without space for trees – actually create heat islands. It is also important to note that the communities experiencing redlining and disinvestment are the communities with the fewest trees and the most dangerous heat islands. We need to reduce the heat, not make it worse.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed by President Biden last fall also makes significant investments in our nation’s transportation, water, renewable energy, and broadband infrastructure, including action on 13 transportation, water, and policy measures. of natural resources supported by ASLA.
The infrastructure legislation is also deep in its scope because it allows the United States to take the first steps to address the legacy of environmental and social inequality in cities created by highways that have divided communities for decades. . Specifically, the “Reconnecting Communities” program provides $1 billion to decongest highways and reconnect communities through multiple transportation options, such as boulevard green spaces, and new connections to economic opportunity. I am proud of the fact that even before the enactment of this law, ASLA recognized the urgent need by honoring landscape architecture firms, through our annual Professional Awards program, for their work to will reconnect neighborhoods with their cities.
The communities experiencing redlining and disinvestment are the communities with the fewest trees and most vulnerable to heat islands. We need to reduce the heat, not make it worse.
In addition, water and intelligent water management have become more important due to climate change. Therefore, we are pleased to see that the infrastructure legislation includes $25 million for five new Stormwater Centers of Excellence across the country. EPA will administer an application process for colleges and universities, research organizations, and nonprofit groups to become centers of excellence. These centers will explore new types of environmentally-based green infrastructure, methods to improve existing designs, and strategies for financing and rate setting, public outreach, and professional training.
I conclude my remarks at IFLA by inviting global delegates to join us in San Francisco at the ASLA Conference on Landscape Architecture this November, where we will release our Climate Action Plan and have more than 120 hour courses that show how landscape architects are actually a secret weapon in solving many of our biggest challenges.
Networking and learning from other leaders from around the world, and sharing some of our lessons learned and opportunities here in the US, is a refreshing and challenging opportunity. As a profession, landscape architects are strong and ready to make a difference in our communities. We look forward to deepening our partnerships with our allied professions and government leaders at every level to design stronger communities here at home and around the world.
