The 2020 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction from the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC) places the blame on a shift from the direct use of coal, oil and traditional biomass towards electricity, which had a higher carbon content due to the high proportion of fossil fuels used in generation.
Already under pressure from Covid-19 and related manpower shortages, the built environment sector must also contend with rising calls for green buildings and certifications. How can the construction sector, which accounted for 2.7% of Singapore’s nominal GDP last year, prioritise competing interests and build a landscape that lasts?
The construction sector has been named as one of the most polluting industries worldwide. Including operational and construction emissions, the sector accounts for 38% of the total energy-related emissions, says one United Nations (UN) report from 2020.
