The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) announced support for the goals of the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit in New York City to stop the increase in emissions by 2020 and dramatically reduce emissions to reach net-zero emissions by mid-century.

"As the world's leaders gather in New York, ASLA calls for all governments convened to adopt national policies that incentivize investment in nature-based solutions to help communities adapt to the impacts of the climate crisis, with a greater focus on the disproportionate impacts faced by vulnerable and underserved communities," said Shawn T. Kelly, president of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

"Members of ASLA agree to a code of environmental ethics, which states they will make ‘every effort within our sphere of influence to enhance, respect, and restore the life-sustaining integrity of the landscape for all living things.' This, to me, is the Hippocratic Oath of a landscape architect — one that we live every single day, in every project we take, in everything we do. It is my earnest hope, and the hope of ASLA as an organization, that the leaders gathering in New York will heed the calls of climate strikers, scientists, and people around the globe to take bold action and protect our planet from the perils of the climate crisis."

ASLA is one of 63 cultural institutions that have signed the We Are Still In Declaration. Some 3,800 leaders representing 15 million Americans and $9 trillion of the U.S. economy have signed the declaration, committing to the goals outlined in the Paris Climate Agreement and America's contribution to it.

You can read President Shawn T. Kelly's extended remarks at https://dirt.asla.org/2019/09/23/nature-is-our-best-defense-against-climate-change/

About ASLA

Founded in 1899, the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) is the professional association for landscape architects in the United States. The Society's mission is to advance landscape architecture through advocacy, communication, education and fellowship. Sustainability has been part of ASLA's mission since its founding and is an overarching value that informs all of the Society's programs and operations. ASLA has been a leader in demonstrating the benefits of green infrastructure and resilient development practices through the creation of its own green roof, co-development of the SITES Rating System, and the creation of publicly accessible sustainable design resources.

Today's top stories

New Bridges Part of Iowa's $114M Madison Avenue Project

Eagle Bridge Co. Works On Final Leg of U.S. 35 Upgrade

Fay Preps Way for Pittsburgh International Airport Modernization Project

SAKAI Achieves Record Sales, Production

Takeuchi Recognizes Top Dealers at 2024 Dealer Summit

Muddy Water Dredging Christens Marlin Class Dredge

Indiana Officials Mark Start of 2024 Construction Season, Promote Safety

Leica Geosystems Launches its First Machine Smart Antenna — Leica iCON gps 120