The Architects Climate Action Network (ACAN) is proud to be part of the Biennale di Architettura 2025 as part of the series of interviews conducted by The Architecture Lobby, joining other collectives who are campaigning for a more just industry. The collection of interviews can be seen in the Arsenale, in the Collective Intelligence room. ACAN is also present in support of the HouseEurope! European Citizen Initiative, in the same room.
Although this room and several pavilions are showcasing inspirations for how to mitigate climate change, the curator Carlo Ratti states that mitigation isn’t enough anymore, and we need to embrace adaptation. ACAN believes that mitigation and adaptation go hand in hand, and we are deeply concerned to see the Venice Biennale promoting a techno-optimistic take on the latter, which seems to suggest still that the issues of our time can be solved all too easily through various approaches: colonising Mars, robots becoming and competing with humans, and all the marvels of green – and greenwashed materials – such as green concrete.
Adaptation should be grounded in a culture of care for planetary systems, both human and more-than-human: from providing us all with healthy living places, to nature restoration and stewardship, to adaptations of our cities and settlements that regulate impacts of extreme weather events. Most importantly, adaptation must empower collective organising for political change.
ACAN aligns with The Architecture Lobby’s statement in their Biennale exposition: «Climate justice is a political problem and will not be solved by technological means». Architects therefore must engage in the politics shaping our industry, as true change can only happen at a systemic and political level.
ACAN will keep fighting for climate justice. At the Biennale, we used the opportunity of being together with different ACAN chapters to raise awareness about the importance of being engaged in collective movements like ACAN – and thus engaging with the public.
Remember: you’re not alone – it’s time to organise for climate action!
