#TimeToWorry: The building sector accounts for over one third of gross annual CO2 emissions worldwide. Yet we keep on pretending we’ll be alright if we continue business as usual, by making it just a bit more sustainable.

“Modern glass, steel and concrete architecture” has been a worldwide blueprint for too long. Mistaken as a symbol of progress and prosperity. So now we wear sweaters in summer in over-air-conditioned offices while our world and cities get hotter every year? Technology might be able to fix the symptoms, but it won’t erase the cause. Let’s stop ignoring aspects such as local culture and climate – and start acting to avoid future unbearable, stifling and unhealthy urban environments.

It’s time for radical rethinking.

We must drastically change the laws and regulations shaping our built environment to avoid significant negative effects on our climate and health. From now on, we have to look at the effects and focus on radical reduction of carbon emissions.

Sign this petition now to demand a built environment that makes sense through regulations and laws that follow these key sustainability principles: 

• Build homes and neighborhoods for people — rather than real estate cash cows with incalculable waste

• Favor a built environment that can be used for a long time — instead of quick & cheap construction
• Support passive and low-tech building design and solutions, working with the local climate
• Set quotas for locally-sourced, re-used and biogenic materials contributing to CO2 reduction and less waste

• Put all efforts into a better utilization and sustainable transformation of the existing building stock and public spaces

With great impact comes great responsibility. The construction industry needs to change now.

Let’s show politicians and decision-makers all over the world what people really want from their cities and homes. By giving a voice to those who have and want to live, work, learn, play and enjoy living in a built environment, we can make the urgently needed change and unite for a healthy, safe and truly sustainable environment. Let’s finally fulfill the Paris Agreement goals!

We all know the feeling after spending a full day indoors: the urge to go outside. Let’s make sure we are healthy when being inside, and can still enjoy going outside. With a built environment that truly has in mind the respect of our whole environment.

Sign this for joyful, healthy living. Now.
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