Building a sustainable future in the Middle East
Annual sustainability and net-zero survey for the Middle East region.
It is time to place construction at the heart of climate action
With growing global awareness around the importance of going beyond commitments and taking action towards emissions reduction and environmental protection, there is a pressing need for the construction industry to shift its focus towards net zero.
According to multiple sources, roughly 40 percent of the world's cumulative annual carbon emissions are caused by the built environment.
Echoing this, The World Green Building Council reports that the construction and real estate industries are responsible for 50 percent of all global material extraction, with the resulting demolition waste accounting for 35 percent of landfills. Moreover, this process can also bring about noise pollution, alter landscapes, and put biodiversity at risk. Even after buildings are constructed, they continue to impact the environment due to energy consumption from lighting, heating and cooling, and water and waste transport.
The 2022 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction published by the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (Global ABC), reported that the buildings and construction sector remains off track to achieve decarbonisation by 2050.
“The undeniable effects of climate change have not been tackled as quickly as they should, and this will bring urgency and supply chain constraints (at all levels) over the coming years. The supply chain disruptions coupled with global economic slowdown and geopolitical events have already been felt with the weakening of the supply chain due to COVID-19.” – Project Management Consultant (survey respondent)
As the construction sector expands in order to keep up with growing populations worldwide, it’s vital that as an industry, we work together to find ways to minimise further negative impacts on climate change and play our part to help build a sustainable future for all.
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