AILA National President on climate change

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The head of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects says the industry is uniquely placed to help in the battle against climate change.

Claire Martin is the AILA National President and was speaking in an interview released as part of the 2021 Victoria Landscape Architecture Awards.

Albert Park Office and Depot by Openwork and Christina Silk Office for Planting won the Award of Excellence in the Small Projects category of the 2021 AILA  Vic Landscape Architecture Awards. Image credit - Peter Bennetts.

Albert Park Office and Depot by Openwork and Christina Silk Office for Planting won the Award of Excellence in the Small Projects category of the 2021 AILA Vic Landscape Architecture Awards. Image credit - Peter Bennetts.

The new meeting, cultural and ceremonial space which celebrates the area’s Traditional Owners has taken out the top award in the Civic Landscape category of the SA Landscape Architecture Awards. The Kaurna Learning Circle & Karrawirra Parinangku – University of Adelaide Northern Campus Redevelopment by Oxigen won one of five Awards of Excellence given out across the 2021 programme. Image credit - Russell Millard.

The new meeting, cultural and ceremonial space which celebrates the area’s Traditional Owners has taken out the top award in the Civic Landscape category of the SA Landscape Architecture Awards. The Kaurna Learning Circle & Karrawirra Parinangku – University of Adelaide Northern Campus Redevelopment by Oxigen won one of five Awards of Excellence given out across the 2021 programme. Image credit - Russell Millard.

She says it is exciting that in terms of climate adaptation and mitigation landscape architects have a huge role to play and can start to build city and our regional resiliency.

She says awards programmes like those done around Australia by AILA, and of course here by the NZILA, are a great way to increase awareness around the issue of climate resiliency.

The Phoenix Gallery by 360 Degrees Landscape Architects won the Award of Excellence in the Gardens Category of the 2021 AILA NSW Landscape Architecture Awards. Image credit - Murray Fredericks.

The Phoenix Gallery by 360 Degrees Landscape Architects won the Award of Excellence in the Gardens Category of the 2021 AILA NSW Landscape Architecture Awards. Image credit - Murray Fredericks.

“We are really demonstrating the capacity and breadth of the profession. It’s really important to demonstrate how we are implementing things. Projects represent action and what we need in terms of climate change is actually projects which make meaningful change.”

She says she would like to think with the extraordinary events of the past 12 months that we will see a green recovery.

Fish Lane Town Square by RPS won the Award of Excellence in the Civic Landscape category of the 2021 AILA QLD Landscape Architecture Awards. Image credit - Scott Burrows.

Fish Lane Town Square by RPS won the Award of Excellence in the Civic Landscape category of the 2021 AILA QLD Landscape Architecture Awards. Image credit - Scott Burrows.

“We are seeing a lot of state governments (in Australia) investing in green or regenerative infrastructures.”

But she says she would like to see more investment in that area across the country, including from the federal government.

A breath-taking “skywalk” that takes tourists out over the ochre landscape of the Murchison River has won three awards at the AILA WA Landscape Architecture Awards. Image credit - Wondrous World Images.

A breath-taking “skywalk” that takes tourists out over the ochre landscape of the Murchison River has won three awards at the AILA WA Landscape Architecture Awards. Image credit - Wondrous World Images.

You can see more of Claire Martin’s interview in the video below.

The AILA 2021 National Award entries will be revealed on 30 July and national winners will be announced on 14 October 2021. The Tasmanian award winners will also be announced on July 30.

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