Architects, together with other built environment professionals such as planners and engineers, play a central role in the design of the places and spaces where people live.
At Habitat II, held in Istanbul in 1996, World Leaders adopted the Habitat Agenda as a global plan of action to deliver adequate shelter for all, having recognised that cities are the engines of global growth and that urbanisation provides an opportunity to promote sustainable development. In 2015, Global Leaders adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity comprising 17 Goals. Goal 11 seeks to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable and at Habitat III in 2016 World Leaders adopted the New Urban Agenda which creates a new framework for sustainable urban development. In its 2018 Global Risk Report4, the World Economic Forum recognised ‘Failure of urban planning’ as one of the ‘global risks’ which, if it occurs, can cause significant negative impact within the next 10 years. Architects, together with other built environment professionals such as planners and engineers, play a central role in the design of the places and spaces where people live. At the 9th World Urban Forum, held in Kuala Lumpur in February 2018, over 25,000 delegates met to discuss how best to accelerate the Action Framework for Implementation of the New Urban Agenda (AFINUA). This survey represents a contribution towards that endeavour and its findings are important. The findings of the survey reveal critical issues in some of the countries of the Commonwealth which are rapidly urbanising and are among the most vulnerable; issues which will be of concern to policymakers and professionals alike.
Vincent Cassar CAA President
Survey of the Architectural Profession in the Commonwealth
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