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Climate action

AIA's final week at COP30

AIA 2025 President Evelyn Lee, FAIA, led the delegation in its second week. 

December 8, 2025
By AIA Staff

For the fifth year in a row, AIA sent a delegation to the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30), held this year in Belém, Brazil.

Led by AIA President Evelyn Lee, FAIA, and 2026 President Illya Azaroff, FAIA, this year’s delegation prioritized discussions with policymakers to advocate for the expansion of resilience planning, as well as a steadfast commitment to emissions reductions as 2030 quickly approaches. Lee presented AIA's 2030 By the Numbers report to attendees at COP30's Buildings and Cooling Pavilion. 

Click through the carousel below for more from the second and final week at COP30. 
 

  • illya azaroff andre barrat
    AIA
    2026 AIA President Illya Azaroff, FAIA with André Barrat, president of the Conseil Régional de l'Ordre des Architectes de Guyane.
  • stilt house aia COP30 brazil
    AIA
    Stilt house prototype featured at COP30, designed and built by students at the Federal University of Pará using local materials.
  • From left to right: Julie Kjestrup; Victoria Burrows of KOMPAS VC; Illya Azaroff, FAIA; and Elinor Huggett of Foster + Partners speaking at the Denmark Pavilion at COP30.
    AIA
    From left to right: Julie Kjestrup; Victoria Burrows of KOMPAS VC; Illya Azaroff, FAIA; and Elinor Huggett of Foster + Partners speaking at the Denmark Pavilion at COP30.
  • Evelyn Lee, FAIA, presenting the AIA 2030 By the Numbers report at COP30’s Buildings and Cooling Pavilion.
    AIA
    Evelyn Lee, FAIA, presenting the AIA 2030 By the Numbers report at COP30’s Buildings and Cooling Pavilion.
  • evelyn lee in blue zone cop30 belem brazil
    AIA
    Evelyn Lee, FAIA, NOMA, outside COP30's Blue Zone pavilion.
  • illya azaroff andre barrat
  • stilt house aia COP30 brazil
  • From left to right: Julie Kjestrup; Victoria Burrows of KOMPAS VC; Illya Azaroff, FAIA; and Elinor Huggett of Foster + Partners speaking at the Denmark Pavilion at COP30.
  • Evelyn Lee, FAIA, presenting the AIA 2030 By the Numbers report at COP30’s Buildings and Cooling Pavilion.
  • evelyn lee in blue zone cop30 belem brazil