The “Carbon-Free Cities: Climate Action in the Built Environment” conference, held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on October 28, 2024, gathered leaders in architecture, urban planning, and sustainability to discuss ambitious strategies for reducing carbon emissions in urban settings. Organized by AIA New York and the Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization, this conference featured prominent speakers who explored both current technologies and future initiatives that could make cities more sustainable. Among the distinguished attendees were Gregory T. Switzer, Dr. Andrew Dent, and Michael Adlerstein, who underscored the critical role of innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration in combating urban carbon footprints.
A major theme of the conference was that decarbonization goes beyond materials like concrete—contributing to 11% of global emissions—and includes broader urban planning issues such as housing, water systems, and city infrastructure. Dr. Andrew Dent addressed sustainable material choices, while Michael Adlerstein emphasized urban policies necessary to meet sustainability targets. Although the presentations offered insight, the conference revealed a need for deeper innovation to confront the scale of the climate crisis effectively. The speakers acknowledged that without substantial changes in the way cities are designed and managed, the impacts of climate change could become irreversible for future generations.
