Discussion: Considering a Course of Action
The results of the survey provide a momentary snapshot across planning and design professionals as we slowly emerge from the global pandemic. It is a record of where professionals currently stand on climate change, and points to gaps between the kinds of work they have had the opportunity to do and their aspirations for what might be the most effective ways to address climate change. The survey data, therefore, is a tool to evaluate our professional relationships, and identify opportunities to expand our individual and collective areas of strength. This will allow us to meaningfully invest our collective energy to advocate for “a seat at the table” where climate actions are being discussed and find ourselves in places where most impactful actions are implemented. To bridge the gap between aspiration and reality requires our professionals to tread unfamiliar practices and processes from political advocacy to truly multidisciplinary collaborations to designing multi-scalar strategies and policies. We must ask ourselves what types of conversations and collaborations will fulfill our aspirations for meaningful impact towards issues we find most urgent? Here are three areas for consideration.
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(Above) 2021 ASLA panel discussion between Adriana Chavez (ORU) and Abrahm Lustgarten (Pro-Publica), and Thomas Nideroest (ILC) on the importance of “Promoting Climate Leadership by Exploring Alternative Models of Collaboration”.
