COP 15: participating in the UN climate change conference in Copenhagen

AECOM's climate change policy and sustainability experts joined government leaders and scientists from around the world in Copenhagen for the United Nations 15th Climate Change Conference (COP 15) in mid December.

Leading up to COP 15, AECOM, as a member of the Prince of Wales's Corporate Leaders' Group (CLG), helped develop the "Copenhagen Communiqué on Climate Change." The document calls for massive emissions reductions over the next decade, with an overall drop of 50-85 percent by 2050. AECOM presented the Communiqué to UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown the week before the conference.

AECOM also attended the World Business Council for Sustainable Development's (WBCSD) Business Day, during which leading companies from around the world met to discuss the challenges posed by climate change and their responses to them.

We were both a sponsor and an exhibitor at the Bright Green Conference, which showcased cutting-edge climate change solutions from more than 170 firms from around the world. Here AECOM released its new book, Climate Design: Design and Planning for the Age of Climate Change. This book focuses on radical design and planning measures for combating climate change and for coping with life on a warming planet. The San Francisco Chronicle interviewed AECOM's Claire Bonham-Carter regarding the Bright Green Conference.

AECOM's exhibit reflected a two-pronged approach to addressing climate change. Some of the projects referenced were in the realm of informing and influencing policy while other projects involved the planning, design or engineering of what we call ‘climate infrastructure' – those buildings, communities, amenities, built and natural systems that help society to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Our exhibit shows a spectrum of work through which we seek to advance our clients and their communities toward climate stability.

Following the world premiere of a short film entitled Eye of the Future, AECOM Urban Designer Chris Choa presented a paper entitled "Designing for Climate Change" at a UN panel discussion on sustainability. A recent survey of AECOM's clients in Europe identified carbon emission reduction and energy efficiency as their dominant sustainability issues. Choa also gave a presentation entitled Dencity, colorfully illustrating urban density as the cornerstone of sustainable development.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa attended COP 15 to discuss the city's groundbreaking work in combating climate change and building a green economy. AECOM worked with the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles (CRA/LA) and the mayor's office to compose a video presentation on the CleanTech Manufacturing Center, for which we also provided feasibility assessments.

Jake Herson