The ASLA Climate Action Plan set ambitious goals for landscape architects. The plan seeks to transform the practice of landscape architecture by 2040 through actions taken by ASLA and its members focused on climate mitigation and adaptation, ecological restoration, biodiversity, equity, and economic development. The plan’s vision for 2040:

• Achieve zero greenhouse gas emissions in their projects and operations and increase carbon sequestration
• Provide significant economic benefits in the form of measurable ecosystem services, health co-benefits, sequestration, and green jobs
• Address climate injustices, empower communities, and increase equitable distribution of climate investments
• Restore ecosystems and increase and protect biodiversity

ASLA Chapters are working to achieve this vision by providing members with resources and education. They are aligning with the ASLA Climate Action Plan goals and advancing work on the plan’s action items.

ASLA Chapters are bringing together practitioners, academics, and policymakers to discuss landscape architecture solutions to the climate crisis, share new research and tools, and spotlight inspiring projects.

To date, eighteen ASLA Chapters have established a Climate Action Committee and Chair. ASLA National encourages all Chapters interested in starting a Climate Action Committee to access resources on ASLA.org, including three hours of videos, discussion guides, and resources on how to start your Chapter Climate Action Committee and host Climate Action events and webinars. Chapters without a dedicated Climate Action Committee have Representatives, and any member interested can become a Representative for their Chapter or Student Chapter.

Both Chapter Chairs and Representatives are part of the ASLA Climate Action Network. ASLA has provided contact information for these Chapter Climate Action leaders to help you get involved. (ASLA Member login required). And reach out to ASLA National if your Chapter doesn’t have a Climate Action Committee and you would like to act as a Representative and join the Climate Action Network.

The California Sierra Chapter created a Climate Action Committee to support members and reduce the carbon impact of chapter operations. They also created the committee to engage University of California-Davis students. Their recent The Climate Action Plan + YOU and Climate Positive Design Pathfinder Bootcamp (free) webinars highlighted tools landscape architects can use to measure embodied carbon and sequestration of project designs. The committee tutored the UC Davis students on using the Climate Action Plan as a coursework resource. In addition, the chapter applies the ASLA Field Guide to Climate Action to chapter events to reduce their impact; and uses every opportunity to blend objectives from the Field Guide’s “Equity: Empowering Communities” goal with their chapter Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives.

The website of the Boston Chapter, which also has a Climate Action Committee, features extensive Climate Action Resources including a recording of the 2023 Landscape Architecture + Climate Action in New England virtual summit, where they collaborated with the Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont chapters to put together a program that focused on adaptive design to meet the challenges facing their New England communities. (BONUS: watch the summit then take the quiz to earn 3.0 LACES HSW.) In addition, the Chapter weaves climate action into their ongoing "Inside/Out" site tour series, such as their recent tour of the newly renovated Boston City Hall Plaza, featuring extensive green infrastructure.

Landscape architects are recognized for their role in mitigating the impact of climate change. Just this month the U.S. Department of Homeland Security designated landscape architecture a STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) discipline.

Visit your chapter website to learn about upcoming programs in your region and help your Chapter move forward on climate action.