Alameda Point De-Pave Park, Alameda, CA
1. Waterfront Resilience
As waterfronts adapt over time due to sea level rise, they can be rejuvenated into green permeable edges that filter urban runoff improving ocean health, removing carbon preventing ocean acidification, and creating habitat for aquatic ecosystems. This evolution is an opportunity to connect people to water in their everyday lives, rethinking more adaptable ways of living, operating, and recreating along our shores. To ensure this transformation happens in an equitable way, decision making based on inclusive community engagement will lead to long term resilience.
2. Regeneration
The biodiversity crisis is understood to be as great of threat to humanity as climate change. To prevent rapidly increasing species extinction, preserving and restoring natural ecosystems with native plants and pollinators while sourcing sustainable materials will aide in the regeneration of these habitats. Careful attention to increasing groundwater infiltration and stormwater treatment greatly increases the viability of future biodiversity especially in regions threatened by fires and drought. Developing habitat management plans informs how to best maximize biomass that connect corridors and patches – contributing to the larger matrix of ecological connectivity.
The Climate Positive Design Pathfinder tool being applied to a CMG tech campus project.
3. Carbon Drawdown
While some climate impacts are already irreversible, with unprecedented action, there is still a chance prevent the most formidable. To contribute solutions to this global challenge, reducing emissions and increasing carbon sequestration is not only an opportunity, but a responsibility. Designing cities to be more walkable, bikeable, and friendly to public transportation greatly reduces greenhouse gas emissions as does using recycled, repurposed or low-carbon materials. Increasing planting sequesters more carbon and prevents urban heat-island effect, which also creates co-benefits of better air quality and healthier urban environments.
By advocating through design, we take steps towards a more equitable and sustainable future – for all.
