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Unit 4 �The Construction Environment

Dr Adewale Abimbola, FHEA, GMICE.

www.edulibrary.co.uk

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Aim & Objectives

Aim: Climate Change and Government Interventions.

Objectives: At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

  • Explore the projected impact of climate change on construction & built environment.
  • Discuss the roles of the governments in achieving the net zero target.

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Climate Change - Introduction

Figure 1. The greenhouse effect (Council on Foreign Relations, 2021).

  • Global warming occurs when carbon dioxide (CO2) and other air pollutants collect in the atmosphere and absorb sunlight and solar radiation that have bounced off the earth’s surface.
  • These pollutants/known as greenhouse gases, which can last for years to centuries in the atmosphere, trap the heat and cause the planet to get hotter (Fig.1).
  • Examples of these heat-trapping pollutants include:

carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, water vapor, and synthetic fluorinated gases.

Figure 2. Global average temperatures

(House of Commons, 2021)

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Climate Change - Introduction

Figure 1. The greenhouse effect (Council on Foreign Relations, 2021).

  • This impact is known as greenhouse effect (Fig. 1).

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  • Global warming occurs when carbon dioxide (CO2) and other air pollutants collect in the atmosphere and absorb sunlight and solar radiation that have bounced off the earth’s surface.
  • These pollutants/known as greenhouse gases, which can last for years to centuries in the atmosphere, trap the heat and cause the planet to get hotter (Fig.1).
  • Examples of these heat-trapping pollutants include:

carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, water vapor, and synthetic fluorinated gases.

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Figure 2. Global average temperatures (House of Commons, 2021)

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Projected Impacts of Climate Change

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1°C

2°C

5°C

4°C

3°C

Sea level rise threatens major cities

Falling crop yields in many areas, particularly developing regions

Food

Water

Ecosystems

Risk of Abrupt and Major Irreversible Changes

Global temperature change (relative to pre-industrial)

0°C

Falling yields in many developed regions

Rising number of species face extinction

Increasing risk of dangerous feedbacks and abrupt, large-scale shifts in the climate system

Significant decreases in water availability in many areas, including Mediterranean and Southern Africa

Small mountain glaciers disappear – water supplies threatened in several areas

Extensive Damage to Coral Reefs

Extreme Weather Events

Rising intensity of storms, forest fires, droughts, flooding and heat waves

Possible rising yields in some high latitude regions

Figure 3. Projected Impacts of climate change (Ugarte,2010)

  • If the greenhouse effect becomes stronger, it could make the Earth warmer than usual (Fig. 3).

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Projected Impacts of Climate Change in the UK

  • Salinisation of freshwater and agricultural land.
  • Increased vulnerability to storm surges.
  • Loss of coastal habitats like salt marshes and wetlands, especially those ‘hemmed in’ by coastal defences.

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How is the UK likely to be affected?

  • Accelerated coastal erosion could cause loss of buildings, rail and road links and resulting economic impact.

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Our Responsibility

We are responsible for addressing the following concerns…

  • Air Pollution
  • Water Pollution
  • Depletion of Natural Resources
  • Overconsumption
  • Global Water Crisis
  • Illegal Dumping of Waste
  • Habitat Destruction
  • Acid rain

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  • What would be the condition of the Earth we will leave for our children?

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Environmental Impact

In 2019, transport, energy, and building sectors still account for largest share of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK. The manufacturing & construction sector occupies the sixth position (Fig. 4).

The United Kingdom's construction industry produced 11.3 million metric tons of CO2 emissions in 2020. This was a reduction of 11% from the previous year (Fig. 5).

Overall, UK construction industry CO2 emissions have increased by 22% since 1990 (Fig. 5).

UK is the fifth country that has produced the most CO2 from 1975 to 2020 (Fig. 6).

Figure 6. Share of global cumulative CO2 emissions (Ritchie, Roser and Rosado, 2020)

Figure 4. Greenhouse gas emissions by sector in the UK (Ritchie, Roser and Rosado, 2020)

Figure 5. CO2 emissions from the construction industry in the UK from in 1,000 metric tons (Statista, 2022)

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Environmental Impact

In 2019, transport, energy, and building sectors still account for largest share of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK. The manufacturing & construction sector occupies the sixth position (Fig. 4).

The United Kingdom's construction industry produced 11.3 million metric tons of CO2 emissions in 2020. This was a reduction of 11% from the previous year (Fig. 5).

Overall, UK construction industry CO2 emissions have increased by 22% since 1990 (Fig. 5).

UK is the fifth country that has produced the most CO2 from 1975 to 2020 (Fig. 6).

Figure 6. Share of global cumulative CO2 emissions (Ritchie, Roser and Rosado, 2020)

Figure 4. Greenhouse gas emissions by sector in the UK (Ritchie, Roser and Rosado, 2020)

Figure 5. CO2 emissions from the construction industry in the UK from in 1,000 metric tons (Statista, 2022)

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Environmental Impact

In 2019, transport, energy, and building sectors still account for largest share of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK. The manufacturing & construction sector occupies the sixth position (Fig. 4).

The United Kingdom's construction industry produced 11.3 million metric tons of CO2 emissions in 2020. This was a reduction of 11% from the previous year (Fig. 5).

Overall, UK construction industry CO2 emissions have increased by 22% since 1990 (Fig. 5).

UK is the fifth country that has produced the most CO2 from 1975 to 2020 (Fig. 6).

Figure 6. Share of global cumulative CO2 emissions (Ritchie, Roser and Rosado, 2020)

Figure 4. Greenhouse gas emissions by sector in the UK (Ritchie, Roser and Rosado, 2020)

Figure 5. CO2 emissions from the construction industry in the UK from in 1,000 metric tons (Statista, 2022)

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Environmental Protection- The UK Government

  • Until 2019 the UK's 2050 target was an 80% reduction. It has effectively been brought forward by 15 years.
  • UK government to set in law world’s most ambitious climate change target, cutting emissions by 78% by 2035 compared to 1990 levels (Fig. 7).
  • For the first time, UK’s sixth Carbon Budget will incorporate the UK’s share of international aviation and shipping emissions

(A carbon budget places a restriction on the total amount of greenhouse gases the UK can emit over a 5-year period. The UK is the first country to set legally binding carbon budgets).

Figure 7. Path for UK emissions (Stark, 2021).

  • This would bring the UK more than three-quarters of the way to net zero by 2050.
  • Climate Change Act 2008

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Environmental Protection- the UK Government

  • Between 2008 and 2018 (Harrabin, 2020):

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  • The energy sector saw the biggest fall in emissions (-62%) as the UK abandoned coal burning;
  • Waste sector (-46%) which started capturing methane emissions;
  • Industry (-29%) where efficiency improved;
  • Emissions from transport have barely fallen (-3%);
  • Farm emissions are almost static (-2%).
  • In 2019, total UK greenhouse gas emissions were 45% per cent lower than in 1990.

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Environmental Protection - the UK Government

  • The government spends more than £290 billion on procurement every year (Cabinet Office and Agnew, 2021).
  • To achieve the 2050 net zero target, they would use this purchasing power as a bargaining chip.
  • From 30 September 2021, suppliers bidding on most central government contracts with an annual value >= £5M must have a Carbon Reduction Plans (CRP).
  • A CRP is a document that is intended to demonstrate a supplier's commitment to reducing their carbon emissions, to help the government achieve its ambitious 2050 net zero target.
  • It is not a punishment tool, but a tool to compel suppliers to be more responsible about their emissions and commit to act.

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Environmental Protection – The Welsh Government

  • To achieve the 2050 net zero targets (Fig. 8), the Welsh government plans to:
  • Put an end to harmful agricultural pollution,
  • Move towards green energy & away from fossil fuel,
  • A net zero public sector in Wales by 2030,
  • Going beyond recycling and making Wales a zero-waste nation.

(Welsh government, 2021)

Figure 8. Climate change targets and carbon budgets approved by Senedd Cymru (Welsh government, 2021)

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Environmental Protection - The UK Government

  • Delay the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars - currently set to come into force in 2030 - back to 2035. 
  • 80% and not 100% phase out of the installation of gas boiler by 2035.
  • 80% and not 100% ban/phase out of the installation of off-grid oil boilers by 2035.
  • No new energy efficiency regulations on homes. No fines on landlords who fail to meet to upgrade their properties to a certain level of energy efficiency.
  • No new taxes to discourage flying, no government policies to change people's diets and no measures to encourage carpooling.
  • No burdensome recycling schemes; Use of seven bins in England.

(Zeffman, Mason and Wheeler, 2023)

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Environmental Protection - Taking a Whole Life Perspective

  • How long will this asset be used for?
  • Will creating more embodied carbon save carbon over the lifecycle?
  • How can we make its use more energy efficient?
  • How can we make it easier to maintain?

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Environmental Protection - Building’s life cycle

Design: CO2 emission through energy and transport use by architects/planners/engineers. Reducing CO2 is through the impact design makes on in-use emissions, e.g. passive/active strategies, Passivhaus principles, etc.

Manufacture: CO2 emissions associated with the domestic production of construction products/materials as well as emissions embodied in imported products/materials.

Distribution: CO2 emitted as materials and people are transported to and from site. This is broadly split into freight and business travel.

Figure 9. Broad areas of a building’s life cycle (Department for Business Innovation & Skills, 2010)

On-site Operations: direct and indirect CO2 emissions (i.e. combustion and energy use) from on-site operations.

In-use Emissions: the CO2 emissions resulting from the behaviour that takes place in buildings is included; the scope to which the construction industry can influence this is debatable.

Refub./Demolish: Includes direct and indirect CO2 emissions (i.e. combustion and energy use) from demolition and waste removal, as well as the process of refurbishment.

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Sustainability Considerations

Environmental Benefits

Economic Benefits

Social Benefits

Enhance and protect bio-diversity and eco system

Reduce operating cost

Enhance occupant health and comfort/Improve overall quality of life

Improve air and water quality

Enhance asset value and profit

Improve indoor air quality

Conserve and restore natural resources

Optimise life cycle economic performance

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Minimise strain on local utility infrastructure

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Group-assessment Task

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References /Bibliography

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