ACAN International Chapters
As an open, decentralised, grassroots organisation, we welcome everyone who shares in our three aims with an interest in the built environment to join us. There are several international Chapters outside the UK.
International Groups
Following the creation of ACAN UK, international ACAN has rapidly expanded with chapters established across 11 countries (and counting!). Our global network channels personal energy, expertise, and action towards a common goal – the systemic change of our profession and the construction industry. Chapters strive for change in their national contexts, while sharing cross-border resources and collaborating on shared campaigns.
Regional Groups Purpose / Objectives:
- To mobilise a movement of professional activists towards this goal by building an open, supportive and inclusive organisation that empowers built environment specialists to become effective climate advocates.
- To address context-specific challenges concerning the built environment in the time of the climate emergency.
- To facilitate cross-border connections and campaigns that address regional policy variations while maintaining shared values
- To the greatest extent possible, people living and working regionally are encouraged to join in with working groups and campaigns at an overall national level – to facilitate knowledge sharing and avoid duplicating our efforts.
Looking to join our Student Groups? Have a look our ACAN Student Section (StuCAN).
Find A Group
(Can’t find a group? Set one up!)
INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGNS & ACTIVITIES
The construction sector’s global reach means every context presents unique challenges, yet solutions can have global implications when shared effectively across our network. This creates a positive feedback loop that accelerates the transition to a low-carbon, high-quality built environment by changing both policy and professional practice.
Rivningskartan
The Demolition Atlas campaign exemplifies this approach, where chapters adapted a shared methodology to their local contexts, creating both global knowledge and locally relevant advocacy tools.
ACAN’s Good Materials Library
In line with our aims and to facilitate the shift to natural materials in constructions, ACAN Netherlands has created an open-source, peer-reviewed ACAN’s good materials library for the Dutch context, to share sustainable alternatives for construction materials, to which all can contribute.
Natural Material Campaign
ACAN Norway’s group for Natural Materials aims to support an industry-wide transition to increased use of modern certified natural materials.
Joint Campaigns and Actions
ACAN aims to create change through three main strategies: campaigning and lobbying, public engagement, and research and knowledge sharing. The international group has run joint campaigns to take a collective stance against extractive and unjust practices in the construction industry.
These campaigns are also held in alliance with similar climate groups working in the industry, such as Architects for Future Germany, Frugalité heureuse et créative, and Bauhaus Earth, among others. Below are examples of our joint actions.
COP28 Campaign
In 2021 and 2023, we organised a joint statement and social media campaign to advocate for more radical change in the construction industry. Representatives from the international coalition attended COP28 to relay this message during the various events.
Letters to EU politicians ahead of the 2024 elections
In early 2024, there was a collective effort in the international groups to contact local EU representatives to demand climate action. Following the results of the elections, a joint statement was published by ACAN to spread a message of hope. This campaign is currently being further developed to continue our efforts in demanding accountability on climate issues from elected EU politicians
EU Citizens Initiative, House Europe
Multiple chapters were heavily involved with HouseEurope to advocate against demolitions in Europe This ECI included a signature campaign to bring this issue to the attention of the EU Commission. They are now launching another campaign focused specifically on housing.
START AN ACAN! GROUP
If a group does not already exist in the country where you live/work/reside we can offer the following guidance on setting one up:
Step 01 /
Gather together a group of 10+ committed “initiators” within your country who are keen to help you to start an ACAN group.
- Try asking friends, colleagues and peers. Make announcements on social media, linkedIn etc to see if you can reach out to a wider group of people.
- You may want to add everyone to a shared whatsapp group (or similar) for ease of communication.
Step 02 /
Contact us to arrange an induction meeting.
- In this online video call, we’ll explain what ACAN is, how it works and how we set-up.
- We’ll talk about how the group has evolved so far and the kind of development process you might expect to go through with your own
- We’ll run through some advice, guidance and support we can offer and answer any questions you have.
Step 03 /
Plan a Launch Event!
- Initially the focus should be a launch event to put your group ‘on the map’, we’ll offer some suggestions and guidance on this.
- The state of the group up to this point could be described as gestation or ‘embryonic phase’. Like a seed, the launch event should represent it’s sprouting.
- The initial set-up phase can be quite intense for the ‘initiators’ group and you will need to have regular meetings (we suggest weekly) in order to maintain sufficient momentum. Ultimately the launch event will seek to onboard a much wider group of people and take some of the pressure and workload off of you.
Ready to Start a Chapter?
Download the Chapter Starter Pack and connect with our network for support. Email international@architectscan.org to book in a call with our international coordinator