Publication: ‘10 Principles to build on’

As the culmination of the four-day UIA World Congress of Architects 2023, the President of the World Congress in Copenhagen, architect MAA Natalie Mossin, presented "The Copenhagen Lessons". They consist of 10 principles for a rapid and radical change in the built environment to achieve the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 10 principles are furthermore expanded and exemplified in the newly published book from 2026. 

The UIA congress emphasized the fact that architectural solutions to create a sustainable society and quality of life of the future already exist. But also, that the built environment is an active part of the world's current challenges: The industry is a major consumer of energy and natural resources and contributes to the growth of global waste piles – and this has a major impact on both inequality and public health. The numbers speak for themselves: The construction industry alone accounts for 40 percent of global CO2 emissions and 35 percent of total waste, and therefore immediate action is needed.

"The UN's Sustainable Development Goals define a crucial global agenda to which the built environment must contribute. Our actions must be bold – even radical – in relation to current practices. With 'The Copenhagen Lessons', we present 10 principles for what it means when we design, plan and develop the built environment. The health of the planet and basic human needs are at stake, and we have no time to waste," said Natalie Mossin.

The 10 principles are:

1. 
Dignity and participation for all people are fundamental in architecture. There is no beauty in exclusion.
2. 
People at risk of being excluded or left behind must be offered housing first when we build, plan and develop.
3. 
Existing built structures should always be used before building new ones.
4. 
No urban development must wipe out green areas.
5. 
Natural ecosystems and food production must be prioritised independently of construction.
6. 
No virgin resources may be used in construction, if reuse is possible.
7. 
No construction waste may be produced or left behind from construction projects.
8. 
When procuring materials for construction, local, recyclable materials must be prioritized at the top.
9. 
Everything we build must absorb more CO2 than it emits.
10. 
In urban development, planning, and construction in the built environment, all activities shall have a positive impact on ecosystems and the supply of clean drinking water.

The principles have been established in collaboration between the UIA World Congress of Architects 2023, the Royal Academy – Architecture, Design, Conservation and the Danish Association of Architects. Knowledge partners are Ramboll and Henning Larsen.

"Copenhagen Lessons" aims to create a common language to accelerate change in the industry, both for practitioners and investors, but also to encourage politicians to support legislation, both locally, nationally and globally. It is also crucial that the changes are implemented across the entire industry, and that knowledge sharing and partnerships help priorities and target efforts and resources in the future.