News

2024 Market Demand for Climate Solutions

See 2021 Climate Survey Results
 
Did you see an increase in demand from clients for climate solutions over the past year?

No increase - 29%
Yes, a 25% increase - 23%
Yes, a 50% increase - 22%
Yes, a 10% increase - 18%
Yes, a 100% increase - 7%

Overall, how would you characterize the construction value of your climate projects in 2023?

Below $1 million - 28%
None of the above - 13%
$1 - 5 million - 12%
$10 - $25 million - 10%
$5 - $10 million - 8%
$25 - $50 million - 7%
$50 - $100 million - 5%
$100 - $500 million - 3%
$500 million - $1 billion - 1%
Over $1 billion - 1%

In 2023, did your climate projects catalyze residential or commercial development? If so, what is the estimated value of the development?

None of the above - 40%
Below $1 million - 18%
$1 - 5 million - 8%
$10 - $25 million - 5%
$50 - $100 million - 4%
$5 - $10 million - 4%
$100 - $500 million - 3%
$25 - $50 million - 3%
Over $1 billion - 1%
$500 million - $1 billion - 1%

How do construction costs associated with your climate projects generally compare to traditional projects?

Higher by 10-20% - 21%
Same costs - 19%
None of the above - 16%
Higher by 0-10% - 15%
Higher by 20+% - 13%
Lower by 0-10% - 2%
Lower by 20+% - 1%
Lower by 10-20% - 1%

How do maintenance costs associated with your climate projects generally compare to traditional projects?

None of the above - 15%
Higher by 0-10% - 15%
Same costs - 15%
Higher by 10-20% - 14%
Lower by 0-10% - 10%
Lower by 10-20% -7%
Higher by 20+% - 5%
Lower by 20+% - 5%

How do design fees associated with your climate projects generally compare to traditional projects?

Same costs - 43%
Higher by 0-10% - 20%
None of the above - 13%
Higher by 10-20% - 10%
Higher by 20+% - 4%
Lower by 0-10% - 1%
Lower by 20+% - 1%
Lower by 10-20% - 1%

What economic benefits resulted from your climate projects? (Select all that apply)

Avoided expected long-term climate damages - 44%
Avoided expected short-term climate damages - 37%
Reduced maintenance and operations costs - 35%
I don’t know - 20%
Reduced material costs - 12%
No economic benefits - 10%
Reduced labor costs - 5%
Reduced planning and design fees - 3%

How many local planning, design, construction, management, or maintenance jobs would you estimate were created by your climate projects in 2023?

Less than 10 jobs - 30%
None of the above - 25%
10 - 25 jobs - 15%
25 - 50 jobs - 6%
More than 100 jobs - 4%
50 - 100 jobs - 4%
More than 500 jobs - 1%

What climate impacts are your clients most concerned about? (Select top 5)

Increased intensity of storms - 52%
Increased duration and intensity of heat waves - 52%
Loss of pollinators, such as bees and bats - 49%
Changing / unreliable weather -- "Weird weather" - 43%
Increased spread and intensity of inland flooding - 41%
Increased invasive plant intrusions due to stress on ecosystems from climate change - 36%
Increased spread and intensity of coastal flooding - 32%
Sea level rise - 28%
Increased spread and intensity of wildfires - 26%
Major species loss or extinction in ecosystems - 24%
Decreased water quality due to increased flooding - 24%
Increased spread and intensity of groundwater flooding - 23%
Increased frost-free season / longer summers - 19%
Increased intensity of hurricanes - 14%
Migration of animal and insect species - 14%
Migration of people - 13%
Expanded allergy seasons - 10%
Increased intensity of allergies - 8%
Changing disease vectors, such as new spread of mosquito-borne diseases - 7%
Increased landslides or mudslides - 7%

Who is driving demand for climate projects the most? (Select top 3)

City / local government - 67%
State government - 42%
Non-profit organizations - 37%
Federal government - 32%
Community groups - 29%
Educational Institutions - 23%
Homeowners - 21%
Architects - 11%
Commercial developers - 8%
Commercial property owners - 5%

Are clients requesting projects to reduce or store greenhouse gas emissions?

No clients - 46%
Few clients - 40%
A majority of clients - 6%
Around half of clients - 6%
Yes, all clients - 1%

Are clients requesting plans and designs in order to increase resilience to existing or projected climate impacts?

Yes, all clients - 6%
Yes, a majority of clients - 20%
About half of clients - 15%
A few clients - 37%
No clients - 18%

How actively are you recommending clients integrate climate strategies into projects?

Recommending this to all clients - 42%
Recommending to most clients - 26%
Recommending to clients who express interest / concern - 14%
Recommending to a few clients - 11%
Not recommending to clients - 7%

What community-scale climate work is being requested by clients? (Select all that apply)

Stormwater management - 74%
Walkability improvements - 52%
Trails - 50%
Bike infrastructure - 44%
Complete Streets - 43%
Electric vehicle infrastructure - 32%
Transit-oriented development - 27%
Climate planning updates in comprehensive plans - 23%
Safe Routes to Schools - 21%
Wildfire mitigation planning - 17%
Smart Growth plans - 16%
Climate justice assessments - 15%
None of the above - 10%

What strategies are clients requesting to reduce or store greenhouse gases? (Select all that apply)

Parks and open space - 53%
Habitat creation / restoration - 52%
Elimination of high-maintenance lawns - 47%
Bicycle and pedestrian-oriented transportation plans - 42%
Tree and shrub placement to reduce building energy use - 42%
Material reuse - 34%
Low-carbon materials research / specification - 22%
Minimizing soil disturbance - 22%
Carbon-neutral landscape planning and design - 21%
Afforestation - 18%
Mass transit-oriented transportation plans - 18%
Carbon-positive / Climate-positive landscape planning and design - 17%
Elimination of fossil fuel-or chemical-based fertilizers - 16%
Elimination or reduction of lawn mowers powered by fossil fuels - 15%
Low or net-zero operational carbon landscape management plans - 15%
Elimination of maintenance equipment powered by fossil fuels - 14%
None of the above - 13%
Natural carbon sink analysis - 8%
High carbon storage soil specifications and amendments - 5%
Biogenic carbon stored in organic construction materials - 3%

What climate adaptation / resilience work are clients requesting? (Please select all relevant answers)

Planning or designing for immediate climate risks or impacts - 43%
Planning and designing for medium-term climate adaptation / resilience impacts (5-10 years) - 42%
Planning and designing for near-term climate adaptation / resilience impacts (2-5 years) - 42%
Planning and designing for long-term climate adaptation / resilience impacts (10-50 years) - 37%
Reassessment of risk maps / projections related to wildfire, flooding, heat, or other climate impacts - 23%
None of the above - 27%

What strategies are clients requesting in response to wildfires? (Select all that apply)

None of the above - 50%
Firewise landscape design strategies - 30%
Defensible spaces - 25%
Land-use planning and design changes - 17%
Wildfire risk or impact assessment - 15%
Controlled burns - 12%
Forest management practices - 10%
Comprehensive plan update for wildfire risk reduction - 9%

What strategies are clients requesting in response to sea level rise? (Select all that apply)

None of the above - 45%
Nature-based solutions - 35%
Erosion management - 29%
Beach / dune restoration - 23%
Other coastal ecosystem restoration - 20%
Sea walls - 19%
Berms - 14%
Relocation analysis / planning - 12%
Breakwaters - 11%
Cisterns - 8%
Flood gates - 8%
Mangrove restoration - 5%

What strategies are clients requesting to address flooding? (Select all that apply)

Bioswales - 72%
Rain Gardens - 70%
Permeable pavers - 60%
Trees - 54%
Stormwater-managing open spaces - 47%
Wetland restoration - 47%
Constructed ponds or lakes (retention basins) - 39%
Stormwater-managing parks - 38%
Green roofs - 35%
Meadows - 31%
Rain barrels - 27%
Cisterns - 26%
Elevating homes and properties - 21%
New flood maps - 16%
None of the above - 7%

What strategies are clients requesting to address drought? (Select all that apply)

Native, drought-tolerant plants - 79%
Low-water, drought-tolerant plants - 73%
Irrigation systems - 51%
Landscape solutions that increase groundwater recharge - 40%
Greywater reuse - 33%
Landscape solutions to manage flash flooding - 28%
Constructed ponds or lakes (detention basins) - 22%
Rain barrels - 21%
Cisterns - 20%
Reduced numbers of plants in general - 17%
Rock gardens - 17%
Drought risk or impact assessment - 14%
None of the above - 11%
Comprehensive plan update for revised drought impacts - 9%
Blackwater reuse - 3%

What strategies are clients requesting to address extreme heat? (Select all that apply)

Street trees - 70%
Shade structures / canopies - 62%
Parks - 38%
Tree groves - 34%
Green roofs - 30%
Low-albedo / reflective materials - 29%
Water play features - 26%
Forests - 24%
Water fountains - 17%
Pools - 16%
Misters - 13%
None of the above - 11%
Extreme heat risk or impact assessment - 10%
Comprehensive plan update for extreme heat mitigation - 9%
Cooling Centers - 8%
Wind pathways - 4%
None of these options - 3%

What strategies are clients requesting to address biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation accelerated by climate change? (Select all that apply)

Increase diversity of native tree and plant species - 65%
Native plant gardens - 64%
Increase use of plant species pollinators rely on - 58%
Ecological landscape design - 48%
Ecological restoration - 38%
Water quality improvements - 32%
Pollinator pathways - 31%
Wildlife corridors - 27%
Soil restoration - 27%
New conservation areas - 18%
Comprehensive plan update for ecosystem restoration and biodiversity - 16%
Ecosystem health assessments - 13%
None of the above - 11%

Answering open-ended question about what trends they see in climate work, landscape architects, designers, and educators responded:  

Clients are more aware of climate impacts:

• "Clients are more knowledgeable and concerned with climate change."  
• "Huge increase in requests [for climate solutions]. I'm in local government, and there is increased awareness."   
• "There is a steady but slow acknowledgement by clients that climate change is a factor that needs to be considered in both building and site projects."
• "Much greater acknowledgement of the reality of climate change among clients and the general public."  
• "The fight is not as hard to convince clients to consider the impacts of climate change." 
• "Clients are looking ahead, building for the future, and preparing for sea level rise."
• "Greater emphasis on the science behind solutions that address climate change."
• "More concern from clients after unusual weather events, like heat domes, ice storms."

Clients are increasingly asking for climate solutions:

• "More types of projects are considered climate projects. The definition of climate project is expanding."  
• "There is a greater emphasis on combating urban heat island effect and water security."  
• "Clients are more open to water conservation measures, green stormwater infrastructure, and native plants."
• "More interest in climate adaptive, native plantings. Lots of resilience and adaptation along coastal and riverways following storm damage. More municipal interest in climate adaptation and resilience planning."  
• "Clients are interested in mitigating flood risks from pluvial, fluvial and coastal surge; addressing water quality issues; and they are starting to pay attention to extreme heat."  
• "Combating the urban heat island, catastrophic drought, and extreme storms."
• "Resilience against increased climate related and natural disaster shocks and stressors that disrupt operations and cause asset and community damage."
• "More attention to sea level rise and resilience."
• "More desire for multi-use paths and bike facilities as well as green infrastructure."
• "A greater focus on high tide flooding, flash flooding, and extreme heat than in past. A desire to serve vulnerable populations and engage youth. Some opening up to managed retreat options. A desire for quantifiable metrics by which to evaluate adaptation options and decisions."
• "Increased interest in low water use."
• "Stormwater management is increasingly becoming a significant permitting requirement for all of our projects."
• "More native plant use for less water consumption."  
• "Desire for green infrastructure and projects that provide value all the time, not just in disasters."    
• "Increased requests for green infrastructure and trees as heat mitigation, shoreline support, and new RFPs for 'migration' plans."  

Clients are asking for new solutions to mitigate and adapt to climate impacts:  

• "Carbon accounting, material life cycle, innovative material alternatives." 
• "A shift from traditional solutions to more Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES) solutions."
• "There is a clearer trend for clients to invest in landscape solutions with a lower carbon cost -- locally sourced materials, abundant carbon capturing plantings, and an attention to resilient landscape development -- that didn't previously exist."  
• "Increasing reliance on nature-based solutions. Need for new service models that prioritize small, underserved and/or low-resource communities while sustaining bottom-line realities. Need for pre-planning services -- working with communities well before projects are defined -- so analysis can inform a fuller suite of interventions." 
• "Trending toward more renewable energy and energy conservation."
• "Solutions based on increasing resilience, which includes social and economic factors, especially for traditionally underrepresented and marginalized populations. Carbon sequestration, heat island mitigation, water conservation, flood plan management in response to climate change and sea level rise."
• "Need to allow for sea level rise in designing tidal wetlands. Need for coastal resilience and desire to use nature-based solutions to create habitat and resilience."
• "Vulnerability assessments and adaptation plans are the most common deliverable."
• "Large-scale preventative measures and receiving communities for people displaced by climate change, instead of small-scale, reactive adaptation measures."
• "Our projects include nature-based solutions for stormwater, planting, and other constructed elements much more commonly. We're using 'climate ready' plant varieties for resilience as plant hardiness zones change. We're also specifying materials that have lower carbon footprints."  
• "A need for planting design that can actually survive within places that are exposed to extreme weather patterns."   

Designing climate solutions can be more complex:

• "This is definitely more complicated work and requires strong leadership from the landscape architect within a multidisciplinary team." 
• "Larger scale and more complex investigations, with integration of environmental modeling, scenario development, and proactive place-based planning and design."
• "Much more education of clients is required to achieve project climate goals."
• "The greatest consideration to me is the necessary outreach and engagement costs that are often not being budgeted for in public projects in vulnerable or disinvested areas. On flood control projects, for example, education and engagement around low-impact development and using green infrastructure solutions often requires a much higher level of engagement than traditional flood control engineered solutions, because people don't understand or know much about green infrastructure, have a deep distrust in top-down solutions (climate or otherwise), and are deeply disconnected from our local ecology and environment."
• "Climate projects require a rather significant increase in initial investment for better materials, new materials, more robust engineering etc. All the environmental certification and approvals required are also added costs to the project, as well as intense modeling requirements for different climate scenarios."
• "Green infrastructure technically requires much less maintenance and costs less than conventional landscapes. But the training and extensive cost of shifting the maintenance paradigm (and replacing trees that get butchered or replanting native plants that the crew thought were weeds) gets much more expensive, because the maintenance workforce have not and are not keeping up with sustainable and ecological design thinking and practice." 

But the economic benefits of climate solutions are clear:

• "High return on investment when considered on a life cycle basis vs. first cost basis."
• "Environmental restoration projects have significantly increased local economic development value and activity, which is also associated with increased community social and health activities."
• These projects "begin to function as an economic engine spurring new, adjacent project development." 
• "Long term irrigation costs are significantly lowered." 
• "Compliance with community-driven landscape can result in cash from the city, particularly in lawn replacement."
• "Increased tourism, recreation, and wildlife habitat."
•  These projects "avoid future redesign when water use restrictions come into play."  
•  "Increased public awareness for future projects."  

About the survey

511 member landscape architects, designers, and educators responded to the survey in the month of March 2024. ASLA has 12,037 full, associate, and international members as of April 8, 2024.

ASLA followed the organization of regions at the U.S. National Climate Assessment. All regions are accounted for in the data, with number of respondents by regions:

US - Northeast (CT, NY, NJ, VT, ME, MA, NH, PA, RI, WV, DE, VA, MD, DC) - 125
US - Southwest (CA, NV, UT, CO, AZ, NM) - 118
US - Southeast (AL, FL, LA, AR, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, KY) - 90
US - Midwest (OH, MI, IN, WI, IL, MN, MO, IA) - 78
US - Southern Great Plains (TX, OK, KS) - 44
US - Northwest (OR, WA, ID) - 40
US - Northern Great Plains (NE, WY, MT, ND, SD) - 9
US - Hawai'i & U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands - 5
US - Alaska - 2

Respondents are located in more than 40 U.S. states and territories. Top 10 location of respondents:

California - 66
Texas - 39
New York -37
Florida - 34
Washington - 26
Illinois - 18
Massachusetts - 18
North Carolina - 17
Colorado - 15
Arizona - 15