News

Landscape Institute Response to Climate Change Bill

20th November 2007

Landscape Institute News Release

The Landscape Institute today (November 20) welcomed the Climate Change Bill but warned that the government’s commitment to cut carbon dioxide emissions to just 60 percent was inadequate.

The chartered body for landscape architects said a decrease in emissions of at least 80 percent by 2050 should be achieved and that the profession should be represented on the independent Committee on Climate Change.

Chair of the Landscape Institute Policy Committee Jon Lovell said: “The Landscape Institute and landscape architects as a profession are acutely aware of the importance of tackling the crisis of climate change and are encouraged by the government’s commitment to introducing legislation. We welcome the bill but we believe that there is sufficient credible evidence to suggest that the 60 percent target is inadequate and should be increased to at least 80 percent now and not wait for the proposed Climate Change Committee to report on the matter in 2009. Indeed, 80 percent should be the very minimum target for the government.”

Lovell added: “The holistic approach of landscape architecture to place-shaping means that landscape architects know how to adapt our towns, cities and countryside to the changing climate and given the importance of the landscape architecture profession in the fight against climate change, we would call for representation on the Climate Change Committee. Whatever we do as a nation to deal with this crisis must be supported by the expertise of professionals who understand the living environment at every scale from the local neighbourhood to the regional landscape.”

Landscape architects are performing a vital service in dealing with climate change. A recent survey of Landscape Institute members showed that 73 percent of landscape architects have successfully influenced clients to consider climate change issues. In addition, work done by landscape architects in Boscastle, Cornwall after the town suffered flooding in 2004, prevented a repeat in summer 2007.

The issue of climate change was addressed at the Landscape Institute Annual Conference earlier this month when Environment Secretary Hilary Benn MP acknowledged that landscape architects played a crucial role in tackling climate change and spoke of the need to devote more time and energy to green infrastructure.

Media contacts:

James Gosling, Media and Public Relations Officer

T: 020 7299 4528

E: jamesg@landscapeinstitute.org

Paul Lincoln, Director of Communications and Marketing

T: 020 7299 4506

E: paull@landscapeinstitute.org

Note to Editors

The Landscape Institute is the professional body and regulator for landscape architecture. Under its Royal Charter the Landscape Institute is charged with protecting, conserving and enhancing the natural and built environment for the benefit of the public.

Landscape architecture is the profession best able to provide a holistic approach to creating places where people want to live and work both now and in the future. The Landscape Institute promotes landscape architecture as the environment and design profession, one that works with communities to create places that respect their environmental context and contribute to a high quality of life.

Jon Lovell MLI is both Chair of the Landscape Institute Policy Committee and Head of Sustainability at property consultants Drivers Jonas.