How can the construction industry serve the needs of a society threatened by climate change?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mike Cook
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Government Policy ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Major Contributor ◽  
Economic Prosperity ◽  
International Forum ◽  
Societal Needs ◽  
Key Players

<p>Construction serves the needs of society with infrastructure that provides safe and healthy places in which to live, work, learn and play, with transport that serves trade and leisure, and with industries that drive our economic prosperity. Yet in serving important societal needs, construction has also been a major contributor to the degradation of the planet’s natural resources and acceleration of climate change. These harmful impacts are now threatening human prosperity and safety. The Henderson Colloquium, organised by IABSE UK in September 2020, asked key players across multiple sectors of the construction industry this question: How can the construction industry serve the future needs of a society threatened by climate change? The discussions revealed the need for deep-seated change across all elements of the industry including our business models, our professional institutions, education, and government policy. These outcomes are being shared in this paper to stimulate thinking in a wider, international forum of construction professionals.</p>

scholarly journals The Success of the Construction Industry’s Adoption of the Carbon Assessment Strategy PAS2050

2021 ◽  
Vol 877 (1) ◽  
pp. 012019
Author(s):  
Holly Smith ◽  
Amoako-Attah Joseph ◽  
Raad K. Hashim ◽  
Khalid S. Hashim
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Greenhouse Gases ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Large Volume ◽  
Assessment Strategy ◽  
Consistent Method ◽  
Research Show

Abstract PAS2050 was introduced in order to help combat the extremely high levels of emissions that the construction industry emits, as well as the large volume of natural resources they use, through the life cycle of a project. It was developed to create a consistent method of assessing the life cycle of Greenhouse gases as well as a method to increase understanding of where they arise from within a supply chain. This is essential in today’s world as without change, the climate will continue to rise in temperature and contribute negatively to the already dramatic effects of climate change that have already been seen. By implementing PAS2050 the industry aims to allow stakeholders to realise the impacts and encourage movement towards a more sustainable future. This research aims to determine how well the construction industry has adopted the carbon assessment strategy covered by PAS2050 through informed opinions, data and case studies. Using journals and research, alongside a questionnaire which will be distributed to individuals within the industry, an informed decision will be made to determine how well the construction industry has adopted PAS2050. The results found that the industry is having difficulty in adapting to the change at all levels and scopes. The findings of this research show that the industry has only touched the surface and although the larger organisations are leading the charge, enough is not being done by smaller organisations and the supply chain.

Protecting Natural Resources

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jérémie Gilbert
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Environmental Law ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Human Rights Law ◽  
International Environmental Law ◽  
Conservation Of Natural Resources ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Do So

This chapter focuses on the connection between the international legal framework governing the conservation of natural resources and human rights law. The objective is to examine the potential synergies between international environmental law and human rights when it comes to the protection of natural resources. To do so, it concentrates on three main areas of potential convergence. It first focuses on the pollution of natural resources and analyses how human rights law offers a potential platform to seek remedies for the victims of pollution. It next concentrates on the conservation of natural resources, particularly on the interconnection between protected areas, biodiversity, and human rights law. Finally, it examines the relationship between climate change and human rights law, focusing on the role that human rights law can play in the development of the current climate change adaptation and mitigation frameworks.

scholarly journals Design and Characterization of Gypsum Mortars Dosed with Polyurethane Foam Waste PFW

Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel Santamaría Vicario ◽  
Lourdes Alameda Cuenca-Romero ◽  
Sara Gutiérrez González ◽  
Verónica Calderón Carpintero ◽  
Ángel Rodríguez Saiz
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resources ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Polyurethane Foam ◽  
Industrial Waste ◽  
Vapour Permeability ◽  
Polyurethane Waste ◽  
New Material ◽  
Technical Specifications ◽  
Mechanical Strengths

The properties and the behaviour of plaster mortars designed with Polyurethane Foam Waste (PFW) are studied in this investigation. A characterization of the mixtures is completed, in accordance with the technical specifications of European Norms. The incorporation of polyurethane waste foam can yield porous and lighter mortars, with better resistance to water-vapour permeability, although with weaker mechanical strength and higher levels of absorbency. Nevertheless, suitable mechanical strengths were achieved, resulting in a new material that is compliant with the requirements of the construction industry. The use of PFW in the the manufacture of gypsum mortars for construction reduces the consumption of natural resources and, at the same time, recovers an industrial waste that is otherwise difficult to recycle.

scholarly journals Zero Carbon Building Practices in Aotearoa New Zealand

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (15) ◽  
pp. 4455
Author(s):  
Thao Thi Phuong Bui ◽  
Suzanne Wilkinson ◽  
Niluka Domingo ◽  
Casimir MacGregor
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Building Projects ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
Zero Carbon

In the light of climate change, the drive for zero carbon buildings is known as one response to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Within New Zealand, research on climate change mitigation and environmental impacts of buildings has received renewed attention. However, there has been no detailed investigation of zero carbon building practices. This paper undertakes an exploratory study through the use of semi-structured interviews with government representatives and construction industry experts to examine how the New Zealand construction industry plans and implements zero carbon buildings. The results show that New Zealand’s construction industry is in the early stage of transiting to a net-zero carbon built environment. Key actions to date are focused on devising a way for the industry to develop and deliver zero carbon building projects. Central and local governments play a leading role in driving zero carbon initiatives. Leading construction firms intend to maximise the carbon reduction in building projects by developing a roadmap to achieve the carbon target by 2050 and rethinking the way of designing and constructing buildings. The research results provide an insight into the initial practices and policy implications for the uptake of zero carbon buildings in Aotearoa New Zealand.

scholarly journals Enhancing the Ecological Value of Sea Dikes

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scheres ◽  
Schüttrumpf
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Change Adaptation ◽  
Interdisciplinary Collaboration ◽  
Ecological Value ◽  
Protection Measures ◽  
Surface Protection ◽  
Societal Needs ◽  
Ecological Aspects ◽  
The World ◽  
Sea Dikes

Sea dikes protect low-lying hinterlands along many coasts all around the world. Commonly, they are designed as embankments with grass covers or grey revetments accounting for the prevailing hydraulic loads. So far, incorporation of ecological aspects in the dike design is limited. With regard to increasing environmental awareness and climate change adaptation needs, the present study reviews methods for ecological enhancement of sea dikes and discusses limitations and challenges related to these methods. In doing so, one key aspect is to maintain dike safety while increasing the ecological value. Potential for ecological enhancement of sea dikes has been found regarding natural or nature-based solutions in the foreshore, dike surface protection measures (vegetated dike covers, hard revetments and dike roads) and the dike geometry. While natural and nature-based solutions in the foreland are investigated thoroughly, so far only few experiences with ecological enhancements of the dike structure itself were gained resulting in uncertainties and knowledge gaps concerning the implementation and efficiency. Additional to technical uncertainties, engineers and ecologists meet the challenge of interdisciplinary collaboration under consideration of societal needs and expectations.

scholarly journals Effects of climate change on environmental sustainability

2021 ◽  
Vol 250 ◽  
pp. 01005
Author(s):  
Manuela Tvaronavičienė
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Industrial Pollution ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Adaptation Strategies ◽  
Viable Solution ◽  
The World

Adaptation strategies to the climate change include measures that can be taken to take account of the new climatic conditions. This paper aims at assessing the effects of climate change on environmental sustainability. This sustainability constitutes a major problem in many countries and regions around the world that experience industrial pollution, degradation of land as well as natural disasters caused by the global warming. The paper shows that adaptation strategies are often parallel strategies that can be integrated simultaneously with the management of natural resources. They can make resources more efficient and resilient to climate change. The paper shows that reducing the carbon footprint by more than 50 percent by 2030 and eliminating it by 2050 might be a viable solution how to tackle the climate change and support the environmental sustainability.

scholarly journals CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT ON MOUNTAIN BIODIVERSITY: A SPECIAL REFERENCE TO GILGIT-BALTISTAN OF PAKISTAN

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 53
Author(s):  
S. Ishaq ◽  
M. Z. Khan ◽  
F. Begum ◽  
K. Hussain ◽  
R. Amir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Special Reference ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Knowledge Gap ◽  
Change Models ◽  
Impact Of Climate Change ◽  
The Government ◽  
Gilgit Baltistan ◽  
The Impact

Climate Change is not a stationary phenomenon; it moves from time to time, it represents a major threat to mountainous biodiversity and to ecosystem integrity. The present study is an attempt to identify the current knowledge gap and the effects of climate change on mountainous biodiversity, a special reference to the Gilgit-Baltistan is briefly reviewed. Measuring the impact of climate change on mountain biodiversity is quite challenging, because climate change interacts with every phenomenon of ecosystem. The scale of this change is so large and very adverse so strongly connected to ecosystem services, and all communities who use natural resources. This study aims to provide the evidences on the basis of previous literature, in particular context to mountain biodiversity of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). Mountains of Gilgit-Baltistan have most fragile ecosystem and are more vulnerable to climate change. These mountains host variety of wild fauna and flora, with many endangered species of the world. There are still many gaps in our knowledge of literature we studied because very little research has been conducted in Gilgit-Baltistan about climate change particular to biodiversity. Recommendations are made for increased research efforts in future this including jointly monitoring programs, climate change models and ecological research. Understanding the impact of climate change particular to biodiversity of GB is very important for sustainable management of these natural resources. The Government organizations, NGOs and the research agencies must fill the knowledge gap, so that it will help them for policy making, which will be based on scientific findings and research based.

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