Expanding Design's Horizon: Climate Responses Beyond the Profession

This summer has seen extraordinary wildfires, droughts, and smoke, prompting Billy Fleming to assert that the design professions are neglecting the climate emergency. He criticizes the industry's shift towards 'anticipatory obedience' and its emphasis on prestigious projects that often serve to greenwash luxury developments. In response, Fleming's latest book, 'Building Postcarbon Futures: Land, Justice, and Energy Transitions,' edited by Jennifer Sigler and designed by Cristian Ordonez, published by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy with maps by Ruth Penberthy, presents a broader perspective on design that embraces non-credentialed designers and community-driven efforts. Notable initiatives include the Arnhem Aboriginal Land Trust's West Arnhem Land Fire Abatement Project, the Cano Martin Pena Community Land Trust in Puerto Rico, the Fort Nelson First Nation's geothermal plant in British Columbia, Cuba's urban farming program, and Vienna's social housing system. Fleming, who co-founded the Climate and Community Institute and serves as an Assistant Professor at Temple University's Tyler School of Art and Architecture, advocates for redefining design to tackle the challenges of a postcarbon world.