climatesmakes

Climatesmakes is a contemporary neologism used in environmental design and sustainability discourse to describe the mutual influence between climate dynamics and human making activities. The term combines climate and makes and is used to denote how climate conditions shape production choices, and, conversely, how manufacturing and design decisions contribute to climate outcomes.

Origins and usage: The term emerged in online discussions in the early 2020s, but it does not have a formal definition in peer-reviewed literature. It is used more in speculative or interdisciplinary contexts, including architecture, urban planning, materials science, and environmental policy, to discuss the feedback loops between climate realities and making processes.

Conceptual scope: Climatesmakes encompasses material selection, energy use in fabrication, logistics and supply chains, design for resilience, and policy drivers. It emphasizes both adaptation to climate constraints (e.g., thermal performance, localized production) and mitigation through low-carbon manufacturing and materials with lower embodied energy. It also recognizes how climate policies influence industrial practices and how industrial activity shapes climate metrics.

Examples and critique: A hypothetical project might choose regional, low-embodied-energy materials to reduce transport emissions. Critics note that the term can be vague and risk conflating distinct ideas unless clearly defined. Scholars emphasize the need for operational definitions, measurable indicators, and transparent methodology when applying the concept in research or practice.

Related topics include climate change adaptation, sustainable design, decarbonization, circular economy, and environmental policy. The term is primarily used as a heuristic to discuss the interaction between climate context and making activities rather than as a formal framework.