Operationalizing Six Climate-Conscious Design Actions: A Framework for Sustainable Architecture Beyond the 2030 Agenda, Sara Elhussein 

Sara Elhussein 
Architect and Sustainability Lead, I Design
London
UK

Purpose: The accelerating impacts of climate change coupled with the limits of compliance-based sustainability frameworks demand a transformation in how architecture addresses environmental and social challenges. Existing models often treat climate, inclusivity, and systems thinking as separate domains, producing fragmented solutions that lack long-term resilience and equity. This work integrates these dimensions into a unified, operational framework, introducing six Climate-Conscious Design Actions: Climate, Site, Design, Decarbonization, Systems, and Community as a guide for early-stage design integration beyond the 2030 Agenda.
Design/Methodology/Approach: This study develops the framework by synthesizing professional experience, sustainability assessment tools, and critical literature. It maps each action against performance and resilience targets drawn from key international and professional benchmarks, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and 13 (Climate Action), the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge, the Whole Building Design Guide (WBDG), and principles of regenerative and inclusive design thinking.
Findings: The Six Actions framework demonstrates how early-stage interdisciplinary design decisions can address existing gaps in practice, particularly in lifecycle carbon mitigation, passive performance, and social responsiveness. It supports a transition from compliance-based design to transformational outcomes.
Originality/Value: The framework offers a unified and scalable structure that integrates environmental and social dimensions of sustainability. Most existing work either (1) focuses on climate goals up to 2030, (2) addresses decarbonization without strong social or inclusive integration, or (3) presents sector-specific or regional frameworks rather than a general, scalable methodology for architectural design practice. This approach enables design teams to operationalize post-2030 priorities in real-world projects and supports a critical shift in architectural thinking, moving from “doing just enough” through compliance to “radically rethinking” how design contributes to climate, equity, and wellbeing goals.
Research Limitations: The framework remains conceptual, and practice based. Future research should validate its impact through case studies, performance data, and stakeholder feedback.
Practical Implications: The Six Actions provide architects, engineers, and policymakers with a structured approach to embedding sustainability goals at the earliest stages of design. This supports improved project resilience, lower carbon impact, and enhanced long-term value.
Keywords: Climate-Conscious Design, Sustainable Architecture, Early-Stage Design, Decarbonization, Post-2030 Agenda, Inclusive Design, Systems Thinking in Architecture.