___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Sustainability
The funding surge for massive climate-driven infrastructure initiatives continues to fuel the rise of mega-projects , with analysts predicting more than $ 130 trillion to be spent on decarbonization and critical infrastructure renewal projects . As the built world becomes increasingly complex and climate-conscious in the race to meet net-zero targets , construction practices must follow suit . To keep pace with heightened demands and accelerated delivery timelines for a seemingly endless pipeline of renewable energy infrastructure and green transportation / eco-city projects , construction industry leaders are rethinking longstanding practices and more readily embracing new technologies .
Construction ’ s costly carbon challenge
While the building / construction sector is widely known as the most egregious emitter of greenhouse gases , many fixate on the materials used ( concrete , steel , etc .) and forget to factor in hidden carbon challenges . Unnecessary excavation and exploratory drilling create a massive amount of greenhouse gas emissions , while also causing dangerous conditions and lengthy , costly delays .
Adding to the construction carbon conundrum , most infrastructure projects run over time and over budget . Delays due to unforeseen events and lackluster forecasting continue to derail construction timelines , creating costly project overruns , with senior project executives reporting overrunning budgets and schedules for capital projects by 30 to 45 percent on average , with nearly nine in ten large-scale construction projects delivered late . And the longer a project takes , the more expensive and environmentally damaging it becomes as more heavy equipment is used and the more pollution and community risk is created .
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