{"id":8474,"date":"2023-05-16T11:14:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-16T18:14:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/living-future.org\/?p=8474"},"modified":"2023-06-16T10:10:27","modified_gmt":"2023-06-16T17:10:27","slug":"05162023-living-future-2023-inspires-action-for-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/living-future.org\/05162023-living-future-2023-inspires-action-for-change\/","title":{"rendered":"ACTING LIKE A MOVEMENT: LIVING FUTURE 2023 INSPIRES ACTION FOR CHANGE"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BUILDINGS ARE BEACONS FOR CHANGE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Buildings are beacons for change in their communities, according to the main message from Living Future 2023 held on May 3-5. Convened by the International Living Future Institute, the annual event gathered the regenerative building movement to chart a path forward for the real estate sector. Despite significant progress, buildings remain responsible for nearly 40 percent of carbon emissions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBuildings have the power to change minds and culture, but creating change one building at a time is too slow, leaving too many people behind.\u201d noted Lindsay Baker<\/strong>, CEO of the International Living Future Institute in her opening address. \u201cWe must act like a movement, using Living Buildings as inspirations to make change around them.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a theme of \u201cAdvocacy and Belonging,\u201d the event focused on the need for a movement to change policies shaping building design, construction and operation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Baker highlighted the organizations working with the Institute, including Amazon, ARUP, Gensler, Google, Harvard University, Humanscale, JLL, J.P. Morgan Chase, Kohler, Microsoft, MillerKnoll, Mohawk, Perkins&Will, <\/strong>and Skanska<\/strong>. These companies understand the threats facing humanity and have made commitments in line with the Paris Climate Agreement to address them in short periods of time. It is those commitments that bring these organizations, and many others, to the Institute\u2019s doorsteps for help achieving the goals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBusinesses that care about climate change need to make sure their voices are heard by policy makers,\u201d Baker emphasized. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Erin Meezan<\/strong>, Chief Sustainability Officer of JLL<\/a> – a global real estate services company with offices in 80 countries – reflected on a quote she read that, \u201call the stories that we know were written for a climate that no longer exists.\u201d Discussing the technical language typically used about climate change, Meezan added, \u201cWe need to tell stories of climate resilience in a way that pulls people in, so we can find the passionate people, bring them together, identify actions and let them go change the world.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Continuing the theme of movement building, Peggy Shepard<\/strong> – Co-Founder and Executive Director of WE ACT for Environmental Justice<\/a> and Co-Chair of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council – emphasized that, \u201cWe can build healthy communities by organizing and engaging the most effective community residents in environmental decision making.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nina Albert<\/strong>, Commissioner, Public Buildings Service at the General Services Administration also delivered a keynote address. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even as Living Future 2023 focused on movement building and policy change, there was also time to celebrate \u201cLiving Future Heroes\u201d who show courage, outstanding achievement, and act as \u201cexceptional troublemakers.\u201d Elizabeth Olivia Torres Rodr\u00edguez <\/strong>(posthumous), Matthew VanSweden, Lisa Goodwin Robbins, Miguel Qui\u00f1ones, Kathleen Hetrick, John Mlade, Zeinab Alameddine<\/strong>, and Jason McLennan<\/strong> were all honored in the 17th annual awards ceremony. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Steven R. Kellert Biophilic Design Awards<\/a> were presented to the Marion Fire Station<\/strong> in Marion, Iowa and De Verwondering<\/strong>, a primary school in Almere, Netherlands. Biophilia means connections to nature, with the awards celebrating projects that promote human health and wellness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Certifications were announced for 15 new buildings<\/a>, including the first Living Building in Europe and the first certified affordable housing project under the Living Building Challenge standard. From Alabama to Spain, these projects are each helping to create a new era for the building industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, Verandah Living in British Columbia achieved Vision Plan Compliance, which is the first milestone under the Living Community Challenge and supports the coalescence of a community around a common vision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Baker noted in her remarks, “to act like a movement, we have to listen to each other, advocate for policy changes, train others, and show up for our communities. With seven years to achieve the Paris Climate Agreement goal of 45 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2030, we can’t stay just innovators, we must be advocates and innovators as well.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To continue building a regenerative buildings movement, the Institute is hosting an Affordable Housing Summit<\/a> on June 20-21.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

About the International Living Future Institute<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The International Living Future Institute\u2019s mission is to cultivate a society that is socially just, culturally rich, and ecologically restorative. To do this, the organization envisions a Living Future and shows that it works better in practice and policy. The Institute is premised on the belief that providing a compelling vision for the future is needed to reconcile humanity\u2019s relationship with the natural world. The Institute\u2019s programs have shaped more than 55 million square-feet of real estate development across the United States and around the world. Learn more at http:\/\/www.living-future.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brad Kahn
brad@groundworkstrategies.com<\/a> 
+1-206-419-1607<\/p>\n\n\n\n

###<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Header photo by Jessica Yurinko Photography<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BUILDINGS ARE BEACONS FOR CHANGE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Buildings are beacons for change in their communities, according to the main message from Living Future 2023 held on May 3-5. Convened by the International Living Future Institute, the annual event gathered the regenerative building movement to chart a path forward for the real estate sector. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":8475,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_eb_attr":"","cover_caption":"","cover_credit":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8474","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-press-release"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t