article · Sustainability
The United Nations 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development establishes global targets that offer the construction industry a framework to convert societal needs into viable business solutions. An assessment combining survey feedback from 105 respondents with validation interviews from 16 sustainable construction specialists examined the industry's alignment with these objectives. The findings reveal that construction activities play a vital part in advancing nearly all 17 Sustainable Development Goals. This contribution is particularly prominent across 10 specific targets: sustainable cities and communities, climate action, clean water and sanitation, responsible consumption and production, industry, innovation and infrastructure, biodiversity on land, gender equality, good health and well-being, affordable and clean energy, and decent work and economic growth. These results demonstrate how the sector's projects directly underpin critical socio-economic and environmental priorities.
The built environment directly influences how societies consume resources, generate emissions, and expand infrastructure. Identifying the specific global development targets where construction has the greatest effect enables urban planners, policy teams, and project managers to focus their resources on project designs that generate positive social, economic, and environmental outcomes for communities.
The abstract does not indicate a specific commercial technology or product pathway, representing early-stage sectoral mapping. However, the findings offer strategic guidance for construction firms, engineering consultants, and project developers looking to design commercial frameworks, sustainability-linked offerings, or procurement standards that target specific development priorities such as clean energy, sanitation, and sustainable urban infrastructure.
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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 respondents, and 105 responses were received. These data were then validated through semi-structured 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 confirmed 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.
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DOI: 10.3390/su13169112
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