Landscape architecture - Directorate for Planning and ...

Foreword
As we confront growing social, political and economic concern over the use of our
natural resources and the development of sustainable communities, there has never
been a more important time to highlight the role of landscape architecture. Landscape
architects take an holistic approach of the sort needed to create environmentally
sustainable places where people want to live and work.
The Rt Hon Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs, said during a recent address to landscape architects “…you bring together
the skills, knowledge and passion that we need for the 21st century in the way that
engineering shaped the 19th century. We need you in the fight against climate change.
You can show people how it can be done. Your Institute has established a record to
be proud of – whether greening gardens or greening the 2012 Olympics, from being
leaders in the design of cleaner, greener neighbourhoods to pioneers of green energy
and green infrastructure projects.”
Responding to this challenge, this Position Statement is designed to:
— Demonstrate to stakeholders and government the critical and central role that the
landscape architecture profession has to play in the delivery of climate change
policy objectives.
— Inspire clients to adopt an holistic, landscape architecture approach to
development which reinforces commercial and public objectives whilst delivering
resilience in the face of a changing climate and assisting in the reduction of
greenhouse gas emissions.
— Provide guiding principles and case studies of the approaches taken by landscape
architects to climate change adaptation and mitigation.
The Landscape Institute calls for the work of landscape architects to be recognised
as critical in the fight against climate change. To this end, far greater appreciation
is needed of the holistic approach that landscape architecture represents and its
fundamental importance in securing our sustainable future. Our vision is of a world
that has adapted to climate change and where further changes are mitigated. This
vision will be possible if landscape architects provide leadership and are given
opportunities to exert this both now and in the future.
Neil Williamson Jon Lovell
President Chair, Policy Committee
Cover: Waters’ Edge Country Park, Visitor and Business Centre, North Lincolnshire