Bringing the Forest Back to the City

"Retrofitting our urban building stock to address climate change need not be limited exclusively to increasing their energy efficiency. If "one of the primary causes of global environmental change is tropical deforestation" (Geist & Lambin, 143), then we should approach the adaptation of our buildings as an exercise in reforestation. Deforestation is too often divorced from urban discourse around climate change. In an attempt to redress that, my investigation into sustainable retrofits has included research into some causes of and solutions to deforestation, including a list of interventions already being implemented in the developing world. We must learn from both the causes of climate change and attempts to combat it as we attempt to reforest the city."

The facades and roofs of buildings are underutilized spaces that could be "re-forested" to absorb carbon emissions, according to architect Vanessa Keith.