Meg Calkins (left); Marcelo Tomé Kubo (center); Kotchakorn Voraakhom (right)
The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) will be represented by three delegates at COP30 in Belém, Brazil. This is the fourth year ASLA has been an NGO observer to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (COP) process.
ASLA’s delegates:
- Meg Calkins, FASLA, FCELA, Professor of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning, North Carolina State University, and Chair, ASLA Climate & Biodiversity Action Plan Task Force. Focuses on nature-based climate mitigation strategies, author of Details and Materials for Resilient Sites: A Climate Positive Approach, and a founding member of the Sustainable SITES Initiative (SITES).
- Marcelo Tomé Kubo, International ASLA, PhD, landscape architect, urban planner, and botanist and managing partner, Patricia Akinaga Landscape Architecture, Environmental Planning, and Urban Design. Focuses on urban nature-based solutions and Brazilian flora diversity and evolution and has been a National Geographic Explorer since 2021.
And the landscape architect delegate of the Government of Thailand:
“Brazil has hosted this COP at the gateway to the Amazon rainforest because they know climate and nature are interconnected. Landscape architects also know that the problems and solutions to the climate and biodiversity crises must be addressed together,” said ASLA CEO Torey Carter-Conneen, Hon. ASLA. “This is the year when we need to scale up investment in nature-based solutions that increase our ability to adapt to climate change, create gains in biodiversity, and lead to economic growth. ”
“Landscape architecture helps ensure nature-based solutions provide even greater adaptation and resilience benefits for urban, suburban, and rural communities,” Calkins said. “There are now so many smart, proven design approaches worldwide that show how these solutions reduce flood, storm, and heat risks; store carbon; increase biodiversity; and generate economic value. Landscape architects around the globe have proven ability to work with policymakers and communities to design these solutions to create stacked economic, ecosystem, social, and health benefits.”
At COP30, ASLA will co-host From Shoreline to Skyline: Resilient Infrastructure, Buildings, and Coastal Planning for a Changing Climate, a session in the Resilience Hub, organized by the Government of Peru, in the Blue Zone on November 13, 7:30 - 8:30 AM EST. The event is co-hosted by Arup, the World Green Building Council, and Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research (C3ER) at BRAC University.
During the session, Calkins and Voraakhom will outline how landscape architects design nature-based solutions to increase resilience while maximizing the economic and other co-benefits of these solutions at the same time.
Media interested in attending this event can contact press@asla.org
Landscape architecture delegates will also present at these blue zone sessions:
Nature at Work: Advancing Climate Resilience through Ecosystem-Based Solutions
Government of Thailand Pavilion, Blue Zone, November 11, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM EST
Highlights Canadian and Brazilian leadership in landscape-based adaptation, showcasing cross-sector approaches that integrate biodiversity, infrastructure, and local livelihoods for resilient development.
Presenters:
- Marcelo Tomé Kubo, International ASLA, PhD, American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA)
- Alan White, Representative, International Association of Horticultural Producers
- Dr. Sitarrine Thongpussawal, Director of Knowledge Development and Dissemination Subdivision, Office of the National Water Resources, Government of Thailand
- Kotchakorn Voraakhom, International ASLA, Founder, Landprocess (moderator)
Undoing the Damage, The Retrofit Urban Revolution with Nature: Action Pathways for Livable, Thriving, and Resilient Cities
Government of Thailand Pavilion, Blue Zone, November 11, 2025, 9:00 to 10:00 AM EST
Explores how urban landscapes can be redesigned to restore ecological function, reduce emissions, and enhance community well-being.
Presenters:
- Meg Calkins, FASLA, FCELA, American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA)
- Dr. Bruno Marques, President, International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA)
- Hugh Lim, Executive Director, Centre for Liveable Cities, Singapore
- Simone Sandholz, Head of Programme, Urban Futures & Sustainability Transformation, United Nations University (UNU-EHS)
- Kotchakorn Voraakhom, International ASLA, Founder, Landprocess (moderator)
Sustainable Amphibious Home: Achieving 13 SDGs in Climate-Vulnerable Bangladesh
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Pavilion, November 11, 1:20 to 2:20 PM EST
Presenter:
- Sharmin Nahar Nipa, Coordinator of Research, Capacity Building & Partnership Development, Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research (C3ER), BRAC University
Discussant:
- Meg Calkins, FASLA, FCELA, American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA)
Water as Leverage
Government of Thailand Pavilion, Blue Zone, November 13, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM EST
Organized in collaboration with Dutch and Southeast Asian partners, this interactive session will explore how integrated urban water projects can catalyze climate adaptation and equitable urban transformation.
Presenters:
- Meike van Ginneken, Special Envoy for International Water Affairs, Kingdom of the Netherlands
- Kotchakorn Voraakhom, International ASLA, Founder, Landprocess (moderator)
Paris at 10: The 10th Anniversary of the Paris Agreement
Government of Thailand Pavilion, Blue Zone, November 19, 11.30 AM - 12.30 PM EST
Fosters discussion on how ambition, implementation, and equity have evolved over the past decade and what the next phase of global climate cooperation demands.
Presenters:
- Susan Biniaz, Principal Deputy Special Envoy for Climate, U.S. Department of State
- Michael Weisberg, Deputy Director, Perry World House
- Jimena Leiva Roesch, Head of Peace and Sustainable Development, International Peace Institute
- Khadeeja Naseem, Senior Advisor on Climate Negotiations, International Peace Institute
- Kotchakorn Voraakhom, International ASLA, Founder, Landprocess (moderator)
At COP30, Calkins, Kubo, and Voraakhom will also share the vision outlined in the recently released Landscape Architecture 2040: Climate & Biodiversity Action Plan. They will explain how landscape architects design nature-based solutions to create multiple benefits for people and communities:
1) Strengthened Resilience
Healthy, biodiverse landscapes that store carbon in trees, plants, and soils increase communities’ ability to adapt to climate impacts – such as extreme heat, flooding, drought, and sea level rise. Nature-based solutions can be designed for urban, suburban, and rural communities to bolster resilience over the long-term.
2) Going Beyond Net-Zero
Landscapes are the most efficient way to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and store carbon. Through smart planning and design, landscapes can achieve zero emissions and double sequestration by 2040.
3) Increased Biodiversity
Nature-positive landscapes are the foundation of terrestrial ecosystems and efforts to achieve the goals of protecting and restoring 30 percent of ecosystems by 2030 (30 x 2030). Biodiverse landscapes are more resilient to climate impacts and better at storing carbon.
4) Improved Health and Livability
Accessible public landscapes, such as parks and recreation areas, provide proven physical and mental health benefits that reduce healthcare costs and increase community cohesion. All communities should benefit from nature-based solutions in an equitable way.
5) Expanded Investment and Sustainable Livelihoods
When woven into communities, nature-based solutions become resilient assets that lead to increased investment in housing, infrastructure, and public amenities, and create sustainable local livelihoods. In the U.S., investments in parks and green space can generate between $4 and $11 for every dollar invested, due to increased tourism, improved property values, and enhanced community health.