Veep urges construction industry players to adopt innovative technologies

Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has urged stakeholders in the construction industry to adopt innovative technologies to promote sustainable practices that reduce their carbon footprints in their operations.

He said the scale of environmental impact from the construction sector was immense, and that it was vital for the industry players to embrace sustainable urban planning, water conservation techniques, and the use of environmentally friendly materials to reduce emissions and ensuring the longevity of infrastructure.

He said this in a speech read on his behalf by Dr. Prince Hamid Armah, Deputy Minister for Works and Housing, at the opening of the Sixth Annual General Meeting and Conference of the Ghana Chamber of Construction Industry.

The two-day Conference, held in Takoradi, was on the theme: “Climate adaptation strategies in sustainable infrastructure development – the role of the construction sector players.”

Dr Bawumia said per some data from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 2022, the built environment sector was responsible for more than 37 per cent of global energy-related carbon emissions.

Additionally, he noted that the sector accounted for 40 percent of global energy consumption, 30 percent of raw material extraction, 12 percent of global water consumption, and 20 percent of global waste generation.

He said: “The construction sector, as a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, must lead by example in both mitigating the causes of climate change and adapting to its effects.”

That, the Veep stated, would require using climate data to anticipate future conditions, ensuring that buildings and structures could withstand extreme weather conditions.

Dr. Bawumia stated that recognising the urgency of these issues, the government in collaboration with key international partners such as the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), and UNEP had launched the “Transforming the Built Environment through Sustainable Materials” project.

He noted that the initiative outlined a comprehensive roadmap for decarbonising the building and construction sector to promote climate adaptation measures.

He said achieving the objectives of the roadmap required the full participation of all stakeholders from government agencies, private sector actors, architects, engineers, and communities.

The Vice President said: “Collaboration is key to accelerating the adoption of climate-resilient strategies, and sharing knowledge and innovation is critical for swift implementation.

“The onus is on all of us. Developers and contractors must prioritize sustainable practices, architects and engineers must integrate climate resilience into their designs, and policymakers must enforce building codes that support environmental responsibility.”

According to Dr. Bawumia, the construction sector was well positioned to shape the future by adopting climate adaptation strategies through leveraging cutting-edge technologies and fostering partnerships across sectors.

“Investors and insurers have a crucial role as well, channeling funds into climate-adaptive projects and ensuring infrastructure is built to last in a changing world,” he added.