The Construction Sector: Front and Centre at COP28

Introduction

In December 2023, the 28th UN Climate Conference (COP28) convened in Dubai. This brought together world leaders, industry groups and non-profit organisations to strategise solutions in the ongoing fight against climate change. The Construction Industry was a key focus, considering ‘Multilevel Action, Urbanisation and Built Environment/Transport’.

COP28 highlighted that although the construction sector is currently responsible for 40% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, the industry is also a pivotal player in driving solutions and ensuring the future resilience of our society and infrastructures [1].

Key Initiatives from the Conference

Several initiatives and forums aimed at decarbonising the construction industry were introduced, including:

Buildings Breakthrough Initiative (BBI): Launched to make ‘near-zero and resilient buildings the new normal by 2030’, 28 countries including the UK signed the initiative. These collectively account for 51% of global greenhouse gas emissions. BBI aims to provide a collaborative platform for governments to drive green technologies and sustainable innovations to be the most affordable, accessible and attractive options in the industry by 2030 [2].
Buildings and Climate Global Forum: Held in March 2024 in Paris, the forum brought together Ministers and industry representatives to discuss new sustainable innovations and endorse a joint statement on the importance of multi-level collaboration. Priority actions include formalising carbon assessment standards and certifications, as well as scaling up demand and investment in green technologies.
Green Procurement Pledge: The UK, alongside seven other countries, signed the Green Public Procurement Pledge. This aims to increase market demand for near-zero-emission construction materials via public procurement, driving the transition away from carbon-intensive materials such as concrete and steel. Graham Stuart, the UK’s Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero, believes that “Governments have the power to instigate change through public contracts, kick starting the improvements needed to decarbonize heavy industry”.

Opportunities for the Construction Sector:

The UK’s transition to net-zero by 2050 not only presents significant growth opportunities for the construction sector, but will also benefit society as a whole. Important opportunities include:

Innovation and Technology: Green and sustainable practices are expected to become one of the biggest investment opportunities worth around £19.6 trillion globally by 2030 [3]. Green buildings are increasingly seen as higher-value and lower-risk assets compared to conventional buildings. This is due to factors such as lower energy consumption and a deliberate focus on resilience against climate change in building design.
Job Creation: Meeting the demand for green buildings is expected to increase the amount of skilled jobs, particularly in emerging markets. It is estimated that there will be 6.5 million jobs in sustainable construction by 2030, making it one of the fastest growing sectors in the global economy [4].
Societal Wellbeing: Sustainable construction will create healthier living environments and significantly enhance societal wellbeing. In particular, the adoption of cleaner energy and materials will result in reduced pollution levels and ensure more reliable and resilient access to electricity.

Where do we go from here?

COP28 underscored the importance of the construction sector in achieving net-zero, however considerable change is required to achieve the initiatives set out at the conference. The success of these initiatives hinges on ongoing collaboration and cross-sectoral dialogue to align on carbon and resilience assessments.

Transparency and data sharing throughout the material and building lifecycle will be integral towards decarbonising the industry. This will ensure material-embodied carbon emissions are accounted for from extraction to maintenance and end-of-life treatment.

The Deecon team have extensive experience across the construction sector, making us well-equipped to support organisations navigating the net-zero transition.