Architects aren't typically known for their policy planning and work on climate change, but Rem Koolhaas's OMA (Office of Metropolitan Architecture) is a bit outside of the box. They recently unveiled a policy report on how Europe can drastically reduce its carbon emissions by 80% before 2050 rolls around. Their plan, developed in part with the Imperial College London, Kema, Mckinsey & Company, and Oxford economics, proposes an EU-wide decarbonized grid and essentially a realignment of the boundary lines according to renewable energy resources. The Roadmap 2050, which was commissioned by the European Climate Foundation, actually provides a practical guide to replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy, but it only works if the whole of Europe works together.

OMA studied a number of fields to come up with their plan — namely the existing power grid, economics of various scenarios, renewable energy resources, energy efficiency, and transportation networks. They highly suggest implementing a plan no later than 2015 that includes policy development and implementation on the following five areas: energy efficiency; investments in regional grid interconnections and smart grid projects; continued and accelerated technology development; market reform to ensure an effective long-term investment case for business; and switching away from fossil fuels in both the building and transportation sectors.

One Response to “Rem Koolhaas Redraws Europe To Reduce Carbon Emissions by 80%”

OMA Reveals Design for Restoration of Historic Venetian Building | Inhabitat - Green Design Will Save the World says:

August 27, 2010 at 4:16 pm

[...] trading post for German merchants and was later turned into a customs house under Napoleon in 1806. OMA’s new plan for the structure will create a contemporary trading post in the form of a [...]