RAIC Climate Action Plan
The climate crisis is one of the most urgent challenges facing humanity today. Across the globe, buildings and construction activities are responsible for approximately 37% of energy-related carbon emissions. Architects hold a profound professional, ethical, and civic responsibility to act. As the national voice for excellence in the built environment, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) is committed to enabling pathways for transformational change through bold leadership, collaboration, and education.
In 2022, the RAIC established the Climate Action Engagement and Enablement Plan Steering Committee (CAEEP-SC) to lead the development of a national Climate Action Plan for architecture in Canada. Informed by a broad consultation process that engaged over 800 architects, allied professionals, Indigenous knowledge holders, youth, and experts across sectors, the result is the RAIC Climate Action Plan – A Framework for Engagement and Enablement.
Launched in 2025, the RAIC Climate Action Plan offers a profession-wide framework to help accelerate the transition to low-carbon, resilient, and regenerative development and design. It reflects the extraordinary challenges and opportunities of our time—and calls on architects to lead a new era of climate-responsive, socially just, and future-focused practice.
Our Vision
We envision a future where the built environment plays a leading role in strengthening both ecological and human health. Our goal is to rapidly accelerate the transition to a regenerative, equitable, and low-carbon future through collective action, innovation, and leadership at every level of architectural practice.
Our guiding principles include:
- Upholding reconciliation and integrating the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in all climate-related work.
- Embedding social justice and intergenerational equity at the heart of architectural practice and decision-making.
- Fostering holistic health and the stewardship of living systems, supporting a regenerative future for current and future generations.
By centering these principles, the RAIC aims to support the creation of a built environment that not only responds to today’s climate and biodiversity challenges but also secures a thriving, equitable future for all.
Priority Focus Areas
The RAIC Climate Action Plan is built around four key priority areas:
- Accelerate the transformation of practice toward regenerative development and design.
- Advocate boldly to create pathways for effective policy, regulatory, and market-driven change.
- Mobilize partnerships and collective action to amplify the impact across sectors and communities.
- Invest in education and research to expand climate competencies, uplift Indigenous knowledge, and equip current and future architects for leadership.
These priorities provide a roadmap for the Canadian architectural community to take meaningful, measurable action on climate change, biodiversity loss, and social equity. They align with international climate and biodiversity targets and emphasize the importance of both Western and Indigenous knowledge systems.
Moving Forward
The RAIC recognizes that addressing the climate emergency is not a one-time effort—it is a continuous journey of leadership, learning, and collaboration. Through annual reporting, ongoing engagement with members and partners, and a commitment to science-based and culturally respectful approaches, the RAIC is dedicated to evolving the Climate Action Plan as new insights and needs emerge.
We invite all architects, students, allied professionals, and community partners to engage with the RAIC Climate Action Plan, contribute to its evolution, and be part of building a regenerative future. Together, we can turn intention into action—and create spaces that support the well-being of both people and the planet.
Historical Timeline and Resources
The RAIC’s climate action journey reflects a growing and sustained commitment to leadership in regenerative, resilient, and low-carbon design. Key milestones include:
- 2016 - RAIC Board forms the Committee on Regenerative Environments (CORE)
- 2016-2019 - CORE regular meetings and planning for the RAIC
- 2019 - RAIC Board adopts the Resolution for Urgent and Sustained Action on Climate and Ecological Health.
- 2020 - The inaugural RAIC Congress on Architecture “Climate Action and Architecture”
- 2021 - Climate Action and Architecture podcast series
- 2021 - RAIC Congress on Architecture “Climate Action and Architecture”
- 2021 - Climate Action World Café Series (Spring)
- 2022 - RAIC 2022-2024 Strategic Plan commits to climate action as a value and strategic priority (January) About the RAIC
- 2022 - Formation of a Climate Action Plan Steering Committee to lead the planning, development, and implementation of the RAIC Climate Action Plan
- 2022 - RAIC Conference on Architecture
- Opening Event - Inspiring Commitment and Engagement to Climate Action , featuring Dr. Jeannette Armstrong, Canada Research Chair in Okanagan Indigenous Knowledge and Philosophy and Keil Moe, practicing architect and Associate Professor of Architecture & Energy in the Department of Architecture at Harvard University Graduate School of Design.
- Conference 2022: Closing Event - Towards a Climate Action Plan - a multi-panel event focusing on inter-professional practice, governmental advocacy and the future of architectural education. The event, featuring 14 panelists from a variety of organizations, including AEC professional organizations, schools of architecture and provincial and federal government representatives to name a few. Theis nation-wide engagement showcased built environment climate leadership across diverse sectors, demonstrating positive momentum and best practices we know today, and identified potential collaboration opportunities.
- 2022 - Thriving Forests - featuring 24 experts from a variety of backgrounds and organizations with a focus on the future of forests in Canada and the role of design, climate science and cultural leadership in supporting them. On-demand Access (free for members)
- 2022 - RAIC Congress on Architecture- “Climate Action and Architecture”
- 2022 - BEAA + RAIC- Climate Change Perspectives from Atlantic Canada (November)
- 2023 - CAEEP engagement 2023 (January – November)
- 2023 - Architectural Practices Benchmark Survey (Spring)
- Inclusion of questions re: climate action in practice
- 2023 RAIC Conference
- Presentation - Climate Action Plan
- Presentation – Thriving Forests
- 2023 - RAIC joins CaGBC Low Carbon Training Program as a major National Partner
- 2023 - RAIC Congress on Architecture
- 2023 - Low Carbon Workshop Delivery - Whistler, BC
- 2024 - Low Carbon Workshop Delivery – Live Online (now available on-demand)
- 2024 - RAIC 2024 Conference
- Presentation on transformation of practice
- Launch preview of Climate Action Plan
- 2024 - Climate Action Plan – Further consultation
- 2025 - Official release of the RAIC Climate Action Plan – A Framework for Engagement and Enablement on World Environment Day.
To support education, action, and collaboration, the RAIC will continue to share a variety of climate action resources.
All resources will be available directly from this page. We invite you to explore, engage, and share these materials to support collective progress toward a regenerative future.