Recent months have seen a rising echo of urgency coming from many of our respected leaders and national organizations.

From Al Gore's chilling 2006 documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, to last weeks web cast, the 2010 Imperative– A Global Emergency Teach-In, it's clear that at least some of our leaders are understanding the looming crisis of climate change and are willing to speak out.

Prominent institutions and corporations such as The New York Academy of Sciences, Patagonia Corporation, The US Council of Mayors, Virgin Airlines, The Home Depot Foundation, and our own American Institute of Architects (AIA) have all recently adopted specific measures aimed at addressing the issue of global warming.

The 2010 Teach-In opened with a sobering call to action by NASA Director Dr. James Hansen. Edward Mazria AIA, founder of the 2030 Challenge then followed, laying out the responsibility and opportunity those of us in the building industry have in addressing this global plight.  With buildings contributing nearly half of all greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, it is imperative that designers, builders, and local building officials work together to implement achievable energy and climate saving strategies.

I was encouraged by the recent meeting of five Western Governors, both Republican and Democrat, who agreed to a regional pact to cut emissions linked to global warming.  The Western Regional Climate Action Initiative calls for participating states (Oregon, California, Washington, New Mexico and Arizona) to develop specific regional targets to reduce greenhouse emissions within six months.

On a more local level, I'm further encouraged by the increased number of clients Jeff and I encounter who are more aware of the issues, are genuinely concerned about our environment, and are willing to translate that concern into the buildings we design for them. 

Let's keep talking–– people are starting to listen.