The pandemic has dominated global news and quickly became everyone’s primary concern over the past 18 months—and it’s not over yet. Meanwhile, the Earth has kept turning, wars have continued, and despite a brief sense of hope brought on by a slowed economy and reduced travel, the climate has continued to warm and our environment has continued to suffer.

As June comes to an end, Canada has just recorded the highest temperatures ever measured from coast to coast. Under an intense heat dome that lingered over western Canada, temperatures reached 47.9°C (without humidex) in Lytton, British Columbia. This extreme heat triggered wildfires that destroyed 90% of the village. At the same time, Antarctica recorded a temperature of 18.3°C on February 6—another confirmed record.

Recently, as architects, we have heard a great deal in the media and specialized publications about how workspaces may evolve following the pandemic, about the accelerated changes in habits brought on by 18 months of confinement, and about their potential impacts on infrastructure. Yes, COVID-19 will undoubtedly alter some of our practices—but we must be careful not to be distracted. Our absolute priority as a society, above all else, must remain the fight against climate change.

As architects, we have many opportunities to contribute meaningfully to this fight. Specifying local materials, limiting the use of petroleum-based products, improving building energy performance, and prioritizing wood or other ecological materials are just a few ways we can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Given that the construction sector accounts for nearly 20% of GHG emissions, it is our responsibility to reduce this share—and to do so quickly.

The effects of the virus were swift and devastating. Faced with urgency, we collectively accepted numerous restrictions to combat the crisis. We showed solidarity, intelligence, and creativity. Vaccines were developed in record time, and after 18 months of sustained effort, we are finally seeing improvement that suggests an end is in sight. Climate change, however, is more insidious. Its process is slower and harder to perceive. Yet the intensity and violence of the temperatures recorded this week should serve as a wake-up call.

Climate change is here to stay, and the situation is unlikely to improve unless each of us is prepared to significantly change our habits—just as we did in response to the pandemic. Today, and for many years to come, the fight against climate change must remain our top priority, demanding the same level of effort, commitment, and conviction that we devoted to overcoming the pandemic.