Landscape architects are playing a key role in the fight against climate change. They are helping to create a more sustainable future by designing dense, walkable communities that reduce emissions from transportation and urban sprawl. They are also making the built environment more energy and carbon efficient with strategies such as green roofs, water-saving designs, and the use of sustainable materials and construction practices. In addition, they are protecting and expanding landscapes that sequester carbon, such as forests, wetlands, and grasslands, which helps to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide. These efforts also enable communities to better adapt to climate change and increase their resilience.
To understand how landscape architects can best incorporate climate change into their projects, it is important to consider their perceptions and beliefs about climate change, how these beliefs affect their design practices, and what information and strategies are necessary to help them address the impacts of climate change on the natural and built environment.