Fei, W;
Opoku, A;
Agyekum, K;
Oppon, JA;
Ahmed, V;
Chen, C;
Lok, KL;
(2021)
The critical role of the construction industry in achieving the sustainable development goals (Sdgs): Delivering projects for the common good.
Sustainability
, 13
(16)
10.3390/su13169112.
Preview |
Text
sustainability-13-09112-v2.pdf - Published Version Download (4MB) | Preview |
Abstract
In 2015, the United Nations (UN) adopted the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development, which set out 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 169 targets and 231 unique indicators as a significant initiative towards socio-economic development. The SDGs provide the construction industry with a new lens through which global needs and desires can be translated into business solutions. This paper explores the role of the construction industry in achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The paper uses an explanatory sequential design with an initial quantitative instrument phase, followed by a qualitative data collection phase. Following a comparative review of the literature on the 17 SDGs, a questionnaire was designed and administered among 130 re-spondents, and 105 responses were received. These data were then validated through semi-struc-tured interviews with 16 sustainable construction experts. Data obtained from the semi-structured validation interviews were analysed through side-by-side comparisons of the qualitative data with the quantitative data. The findings show that the construction industry has a critical role in achieving almost all the 17 SDGs. The roles were, however, prevalent in 10 key SDGs, namely: sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11); climate action (SDG 13); clean water and sanitation (SDG 6); responsible consumption and production (SDG 12); industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9); life on land (biodiversity) (SDG 15); gender equality (SDG 5); good health and well-being (SDG 3); affordable and clean energy (SDG 7); decent work and economic growth (SDG 8). The study con-firmed the role played by the construction industry in achieving these SDGs. The findings from this study provide further insights into the ever-increasing state-of-the-art regarding the construction industry’s role in achieving Sustainable Development Goals.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | The critical role of the construction industry in achieving the sustainable development goals (Sdgs): Delivering projects for the common good |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.3390/su13169112 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169112 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited |
| Keywords: | construction industry; sustainable business; sustainable development; SDG2030; Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of the Built Environment |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10133386 |
Archive Staff Only
 |
View Item |
