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Landscape Architects’ Perspectives on a Climate and Biodiversity Commitment Program
Do you think a climate and biodiversity commitment program for the landscape architecture profession is needed?
Yes - 77%
No - 13%
Don't know - 10%
If your organization contributed project data or other resources to a commitment program, what would you want in return?
Technical support for commitment project data reporting - 64%
Annual report with impact statistics - 60%
Educational opportunities, such as an annual symposium or dedicated event at the ASLA conference, online community forum, etc - 55%
Marketing and branding support, including a commitment logo for use on our firm's website, social media kit, early adopter recognition, call to action email templates - 54%
Networking opportunities with other organizations committed to climate and biodiversity action - 43%
How would a commitment program benefit your organization?
Enable us to better show our commitment to clients that have climate action plan - 58%
Support our alignment with other disciplines’ efforts (architecture, engineering etc.) - 57%
Increase our competitive advantage - 33%
Improve our marketing - 31%
A number of respondents said a commitment program would also enable them to demonstrate their organization’s values.
What project data are you tracking now?
Water - 36%
None - 31%
Biodiversity - 22%
Carbon - 21%
Heat reduction - 16%
Equity - 13%
Don't know - 12%
Respondents said they are also tracking:
- Vegetated area, percentage of whole
- Percentage increase in tree canopy
- Number of trees added
- How many “terrestrial acres, stream miles, and shoreline linear feet have been restored” through projects
- Amount of impervious areas in projects
- Number of physical features fostering ecological stewardship
- Percentage of native plants and species richness and structural diversity
- Percentage of water quality volume retained and treated onsite (1.5" rainfall event)
- Percentage of water needs met through on-site, non-potable sources
- Use of dark-sky compliant lighting
Are you using Pathfinder in your project workflow?
No - 71%
Yes, for 10% of projects - 8%
Yes, for 50% of projects - 7%
Don't know - 4%
Yes, for 25% of projects - 4%
Yes, for 100% of projects - 3%
Yes, for 75% of projects - 3%
Are you using Carbon Conscience in your project workflow?
No - 73%
Yes, for 50% of projects - 6%
Yes, for 10% of projects - 6%
Don't know - 6%
Yes, for 25% of projects - 4%
Yes, for 100% projects - 3%
Yes, for 75% of projects - 2%
What other tools is your organization using to track carbon emissions or landscape performance in your project workflow?
Respondents listed a number of tools:
Does your organization have the knowledge and resources to achieve the measurable goals — carbon and biodiversity improvements, water use reduction, canopy cover increases, etc — of the ASLA Climate Action Plan?
We have adequate knowledge, but lack time and financial resources - 35%
No, we don't have the knowledge and resources - 21%
Yes, we have adequate knowledge and resources - 19%
No, we don't receive adequate cooperation from clients, allied professions, and manufacturers - 16%
Don't know - 9%
Is your organization now dedicating resources to achieving the goals of the ASLA Climate Action Plan?
No - 44%
Yes - 35%
Don't know - 21%
What area of your practice do you anticipate will be most impacted by efforts to meet the carbon reduction and sequestration goals of the ASLA Climate Action Plan?
Material sourcing - 57%
Project design - 54%
Bidding and construction - 41%
Client relationships - 31%
Project acquisition choices - 25%
Don't know - 10%
None of the above - 5%
One respondent also noted they expect “the scoping of contracts” to change with efforts to achieve carbon reduction and sequestration goals. “We need the fees to have adequate time to effectively use the tools, especially Pathfinder, as a part of iterative design.” Other respondents saw potential impacts on construction and maintenance costs.
What is your organization's top priority as you begin to tackle these goals?
Training and employee education - 44%
Researching new materials - 36%
Specifying new materials - 32%
Implementing carbon accounting - 29%
Working with a sustainability consultant - 17%
Don't know -16%
None - 12%
Other priorities identified by respondents include:
- “Making design decisions based on verifiable and credible data”
- “Partnering with entomologists and ecologists on design work”
- “Developing maintenance handbooks for clients working with natives”
- “Bringing new tools into our standard workflow”
- “Encouraging engineers and contractors to commit to climate action and carbon accounting”
Does your organization market — or plan to market — your efforts around carbon reduction, sequestration, or biodiversity as part of your services or brand identity?
Yes - 27%
Don't know - 26%
No - 25%
In progress - 21%
Does your organization have a climate, sustainability, or biodiversity action plan?
No - 47%
Yes - 23%
In progress - 20%
Don't know - 9%
About the Survey
233 member landscape architects, designers, educators, and students responded to the survey in April 2025. ASLA has 16,429 full, associate, international, and student members, as of April 30, 2025.
Respondents are active in a variety of practice areas:
Private practice - 70%
Academia - 7%
Local government - 6%
State or federal government - 4%
Community organization - 3%
Non-profit - 3%
Top titles of respondents:
Firm principal - 19%
Designer - 13%
Senior landscape architect - 11%
Manager - 10%
Landscape architect - 9%
CEO - 8%