![\"A](\"https:\/\/adsknews.autodesk.com\/app\/uploads\/2021\/10\/COP-26_1-1024x580.jpg\")
A fictional cityscape showing digital transformation and connected data across the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry.<\/p><\/div> The next few weeks offer the opportunity for a historic step forward in combatting climate change if Congress and governments at the\u00a0UN Climate Conference COP26<\/a> seize the moment and take bold action. At Autodesk, we believe that together we can design and make a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable future. That is why professionals across industries choose Autodesk to design and make more sustainable products and communities and why we\u2019re improving our own operations through science-based climate goals to run Autodesk as a carbon-neutral business. We know that\u00a0technology plays a crucial role in the global\u00a0challenge of\u00a0combating\u00a0climate\u00a0change.\u00a0It\u2019s the reason\u00a0why we continue to invest in solutions that use AI to deliver\u00a0useful\u00a0insights for\u00a0more\u00a0sustainable decision-making\u00a0and\u00a0automation to streamline old and wasteful processes.\u00a0We\u2019re also\u00a0catalyzing\u00a0innovation between and beyond our industries\u00a0and\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0proud\u00a0that\u00a0we\u2019re\u00a0joining efforts like\u00a0the World Business Council for Sustainable Development<\/a> project on Transforming the Built Environment\u00a0and the\u00a0Carbon Leadership Forum.<\/a> However, private sector efforts will not be sufficient to bring lasting change on a global scale.\u00a0We\u00a0must engage\u00a0policymakers\u00a0to enact\u00a0robust policies at all levels of government\u00a0to\u00a0reduce the impacts of climate change and\u00a0support\u00a0clean energy, so that\u00a0businesses\u00a0can compete and thrive in the low-carbon\u00a0economy.\u00a0With so much at stake, the time to act is now\u2014I believe\u00a02021 represents the best\u00a0opportunity\u00a0for\u00a0policy action\u00a0to protect the climate. I\u2019ve been meeting with key climate\u00a0leaders\u00a0in the White House to express our\u00a0interest in\u00a0policies to green the built environment.\u00a0We support\u00a0the climate provisions\u00a0currently pending in Congress\u00a0in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act\u00a0(IIJA)\u00a0and urge Congress to\u00a0include\u00a0the strongest possible\u00a0climate\u00a0policies\u00a0in the pending\u00a0Build Back Better\u00a0Act. Digital rendering of a construction site along a city waterfront.<\/p><\/div> The IIJA will reduce carbon emissions by investing in public transit, vehicle electrification, energy efficiency and electric grid modernization, as well as projects to better fortify our infrastructure against, and make it more resilient to, the severe and still-worsening effects of climate change. It also includes a program to support better adoption of digital construction technologies to help build more sustainable roads and bridges. The Build Back Better Act includes climate-related measures aimed at our industries such as environmental product declaration for construction materials and products, water system disaster resiliency, and updated building codes for energy efficiency. Even more ambitious and critical is the Clean Energy Performance Program and expanded clean energy tax incentives which will steer the nation to a sustainable power sector by 2035. As leaders across nations prepare to gather this fall at COP26, it is critical for the U.S. and other global economies to move boldly and decisively to hold-off climate catastrophe. Congress has a chance to demonstrate to the world that the U.S. is taking ambitious action to prevent climate catastrophe\u2014all while growing industries and the economy. We urge swift legislative action on these significant climate provisions. Additionally, Autodesk is joining businesses<\/a> and\u00a0our customers<\/a> in calling on global leaders to commit to limiting temperature rise to 1.5\u00b0C and transition to a net-zero economy. Focusing on the manufacturing and Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industries will be key to meeting this target since nearly 40% of energy-related carbon emissions come from the building sector and approximately 19% of global emissions from manufacturing.* It will take an industry-wide mind shift\u2013and the right government incentives globally\u2013to approach the problem holistically with a full life-cycle view of new and existing products and projects, from design to construction to operation to renovation. We know the digital tools already exist to help meet our collective climate goals and I\u2019m proud Autodesk is building them. I\u00a0am\u00a0excited about the\u00a0opportunity we have\u2014with\u00a0collaboration between\u00a0governments, civil society, and\u00a0industry\u2014to\u00a0build a more sustainable future for all.\u00a0Autodesk\u00a0will be at\u00a0COP26<\/a> to share how we are working together with our partners, our sectors, and our customers to accelerate positive impact around the world. I\u2019ll also be joining policymakers to discuss how local cities can lead the way in bringing climate action to their places and communities. Autodesk will continue to raise its voice to promote responsible policies and digital technologies that improve sustainability, build resiliency, and grow the economy. *Source: <\/em>Autodesk FY21 Impact Report<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Technology plays a crucial role in the global\u202fchallenge of\u202fcombating\u202fclimate\u202fchange<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":60,"featured_media":7242,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","categories":[18,376,322],"adsk_tags":[],"class_list":["post-7241","views","type-views","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","categories-impact","categories-perspectives","categories-sustainability-2"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"Digital](\"https:\/\/adsknews.autodesk.com\/app\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Cop-26_2-1024x580.jpg\")