Sustainable Futures: Learning from Copenhagen

This article analyses and explores the implications of the “Copenhagen Lessons – 10 Principles to Build On”, presented at the conclusion of the 28th UIA World Congress of Architects, “Sustainable Futures – Leave No One Behind” (held in Copenhagen, 2023). The principles address architecture’s contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and outline targets for the new practice needed to meet the goals. The article discusses how the principles can be localized and implemented to enable further, decisive action in the building industry, in educational institutions, among government officials and in society at large. The article is a contribution to a new language and framework of how to understand architecture and points to some of the many new architectural solutions, responding to local climate, culture, and challenges. The change needed to address social needs while protecting the planet is mayor, and the collective challenge demands a new way of talking about architecture and, crucially, new ways to design, plan and build as we go forward.