Climate change
Landscape architecture and the challenge of climate change
Policy position statement (2008)
As we confront growing social, political and economic concern over the use of our natural resources and the development of sustainable communities, there has never been a more important time to highlight the role of landscape architecture. Landscape architects take an holistic approach of the sort needed to create environmentally sustainable places where people want to live and work.
Responding to this challenge, this Position Statement is designed to:
- Demonstrate to stakeholders and government the critical and central role that the landscape architecture profession has to play in the delivery of climate change policy objectives.
- Inspire clients to adopt an holistic, landscape architecture approach to development which reinforces commercial and public objectives whilst delivering resilience in the face of a changing climate and assisting in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
- Provide guiding principles and case studies of the approaches taken by landscape architects to climate change adaptation and mitigation.
The Landscape Institute calls for the work of landscape architects to be recognised as critical in the fight against climate change. To this end, far greater appreciation is needed of the holistic approach that landscape architecture represents and its fundamental importance in securing our sustainable future. Our vision is of a world that has adapted to climate change and where further changes are mitigated. This vision will be possible if landscape architects provide leadership and are given opportunities to exert this both now and in the future.
Case studies
Landscape schemes featured as case studies in this policy statement:
- Sutcliffe Park, London
- Moorgate Crofts Business Centre, Rotherham
- Waters’ Edge Country Park, North Lincolnshire
- Centenary Gardens, Manchester
- Munich Ackermannbogen, Germany
- Alkborough Flats, North Lincolnshire
- Devon Biofuels
- Sheffield Manor Fields, South Yorkshire
- Tower Hamlets Environmental Spatial Analysis Methodology, London
- Integrated infrastructure development in the East End of Glasgow
Consultation responses
The LI has responded to national consultations on climate change issues:
- Consultation on draft National Policy Statements for Energy Infrastructure Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC), February 2010
- Adapting to Climate Change Inquiry
Environmental Audit Committee, October 2009 - Adapting to climate change: ensuring progress in key sectors
Consultation on the Adaptation Reporting Power in the Climate Change Act 2008 | Defra, September 2009 - Adapting the UK to climate change: invitation to submit formal evidence
Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, October 2008 - Draft Climate Change Policy
Natural England, September 2007 - Adapting to climate change in Europe – options for EU action
Commission of the European Communities, 2007
Press releases
- Landscape Institute helps put green infrastructure at the heart of climate change policy March 2010
- New report highlights critical importance of landscape architecture in tackling climate change November 2008
