b'erban ScrieciuMEASURES TO CURB emissions ofdimension of the built environment isexpressions, finds its raison dtre in the greenhouse gases and to adapt to thegaining traction. Architectural practicesprofound ties it shares with life and society, repercussions of climate change are typicallyare paying more attention to harnessingwhen, through creative synthesis, it is able to thought of at the strategic, public-policybottomup stakeholder participation, andrepresent all aspects of human living.2level. They are generally applied topdown,the incorporation of collective local formsNonetheless, although many climate-through shifts in government-induced rulesof needs and desires into their models,concerned architectural firms and businesses, and regulations, for a wide variety of marketplans, and designs. An illustrative showcasein general, genuinely consider civic players and social actors, which act as carrotsof the trend to embrace togetherness andmindedness, empowerment, co-habitation or sticks. But politics and electoral constraintssocial inclusion was put forward in the 2021and social engagement, there is still little often get in the way of more drastic,Venice Architecture Biennale, curated by theawareness and inclusion of a key critical decisive policy action needed to stabilise thearchitect and educator Hashim Sarkis. Withinhuman element: that relating to the realm climate. Moreover, so that they are effective,the context of dangerous climate change,of emotions, empathy, and feelings. As John climate solutions would need to be sociallygrowing social and economic inequalities, andMarx, painter, poet, and architect (partner and acceptable, perceived as fair, and embraced byincreasing political tensions, last years Venicechief artistic officer in Form4 Architecture) communities and society at large. Otherwise,Biennale called on participants, exposantslamented:"When did the public fall out of topdown action may easily backfire,and visitors alike, to collectively imaginelove with the built environment? When did undermining any potential hard-achievedspaces that offer inspiring solutions to thewe [architects] begin to neglect the people we progress. events How will we live together? thematicpledged to care for? 3 His watercolours and Bottom-up action, initiated by aquestion. As Sarkis explains: architects arepoetry, exhibited at Palazzo Mora, as part of diverse set of stakeholders, irrespective ofpreoccupied with shaping the spaces in whichthe powerful Time Space Existence exhibition governmental stances, is at least as equallypeople live together and [] aspire to enableof the European Cultural Centre, and included important as topdown approaches, in ourthe best of the social contract.1Robertoin the 2021 Venice Biennale (henceforth, TSE-collective efforts to tackle the climate changeCicutto, president of the Biennale, remindsECC), convey a touching, impactful message. problem. Businesses are a growing exampleus that architecture just like other artisticHe gracefully advocates for architecture to in this regard; partly because they may anticipate changes in the public regulatory environment and engage in a low-carbon innovation race, partly because they may be eager to respond to emerging demand for more environmentally sustainable products from their existent or would-be customers. In addition, the concept and practice of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting criteria, which sustainability-conscious investors refer to more and more when assessing corporate impacts and making their financing decisions, is further encouraging businesses to operate in decarbonisation or climate proofing activities. However, in order for climate action to be impactful, businesses still have to engage more closely with the communities they affect, throughout their supply chains and products lifecycles. How this could happen in practice remains a challenge.Some inspiration can be drawn, though, from certain domains or other walks of life. In architecture, the social Beyond Bending II exhibit - Sustainable affordable housing for South Africa, Venice, Italy (2021). Image: Serban Scrieciu.1 How will we live together?, Short Guide to the Biennale Architettura 2021, La Biennale di Venezia (p. 28)2 How will we live together?, Short Guide to the Biennale Architettura 2021, La Biennale di Venezia (p. 21)3 See The Absurdity of Beauty; Rebalancing the Modernist Narrative published in 2018 in the Architectural Review and Form4 Architecture (p.5)10'