IABSE Symposium Manchester; 10-12 April 2024
David Knight, Vice-Chair, Organising Committee, IABSE Symposium Manchester 2024
The world is sleepwalking into the climate emergency. Recent stories about wildfires, extreme heat and weather, and the continued mass climate migration of people around the world are all part of what it means to live in a heating world. What can I do? How can I possibly help? I’m only one; my impact is so small as to be insignificant. How could I hope to solve this?
Manchester is the birthplace of the cooperative movement: a system of pooling resources, ideas and democracy to create something that is collectively greater than what each individual can do on their own, often with broader social aims. What better place to discuss how construction can collaborate and cooperate to do all it can to ameliorate the climate emergency?
By looking at case studies of exemplary designs and outstanding work on existing structures, discussing how to improve longevity and durability, and how we may be able to use technology to further these aims, the conference aims to be a way to share best practices and inspire others. But more than that, it will be an opportunity to discuss how we can collectively make a difference. Are there new organisations and structures needed for the construction industry to act? In the UK, the idea of “Part Z” (an addition to the building regulations mandating the consideration of embodied carbon in the design of new structures) is gaining traction; do we collectively need to be lobbying our national regulators or code writers to incorporate this into our governing laws? Should we all be signing up to a code of climate practice?
I am especially interested in the conference topics covering the ethics of working in this new world and am excited to hear how people approach them. Is it ethically acceptable to continue to work on heavily polluting projects that don’t consider climate and biodiversity breakdown? How do decision-makers balance the conscientious wishes of their staff against the imperative of capital? Is it enough to “improve” the performance of a project even if the overall outcome is poor? Is the defence that “we made more of an improvement than other firms would” adequate, or should we refuse to work on some projects? A special session on climate ethics is one of my highlights of the conference and hopefully will encourage positive discussion around this difficult area.
As the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution in Britain, Manchester is a key part of the industrial world we live in, and the conference dinner at the location of the world’s first passenger train station will highlight that history alongside original steam trains and weaving machines. New visitors to Manchester can also enjoy visits to the world-famous football clubs (and perhaps catch a game if they stay for the weekend) or join a site visit to the nearby IABSE Supreme Award-winning Mersey Gateway Bridge.
Travel to Manchester is simple from Europe via train (with fast trains available directly from London in just over two hours), and participation is welcomed worldwide. Come join us in Manchester and join the most important conversation in the industry right now. Conference passes are now available at www.iabse.org/manchester2024.
Castlefield Viaduct in Manchester has recently been reopened as a high-level park, promoting increased biodiversity in the cityscape. Photocredits: wallpaperflare.com
The Lowry – for art by LS Lowry and cultural and performance spaces
