CBNME KSA SUSTAINABILITY

Owners and operators need to ensure they have the data surveillance and collection mechanisms in place to monitor resource consumption, as well as putting the organisational structures in place to integrate and act on the observed findings. If all new projects embed effective control systems right at the asset level, these can then be scaled upwards to the infrastructure systems which support community, master plan, and city scales.

The magnitude of development in Saudi Arabia is likely to have a significant impact on global supply chains, particularly those for primary construction materials like concrete, steel, aluminium, and glass. The production, transportation, and processing of these materials is carbon-intensive, but they are also significant contributors to construction waste.

According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, building construction and refurbishment alone account for 11 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions, owing primarily to material production and use. With an average of 15 percent of building materials being wasted, there is much opportunity for improvement in managing construction waste.

To measure the impact of emissions related to construction, we need to commit to looking at the whole lifecycle of carbon and conducting embodied carbon assessments on all projects.

Government and development organisations mandating these assessments will aid in their adoption in the region. As we gain a better understanding of embodied emissions, we can begin to incorporate carbon-based decision-making into the design and development processes. Taking a whole lifecycle perspective, we can align carbon and cost impacts for different scenarios and use the results to inform business decisions about scale, structure, strategy, and approach.

The second benefit of this carbon measurement activity is that it will help kickstart the collection of data defining every aspect of our built environment. When we combine materials management and digitisation, we have ability to identify and create value from the materials embodied in our assets, which can inform opportunities for retrofit and refurbishment, as well as demonstrating end-of-life value.

To get to the point where climate-responsible design is the norm, we need to leverage the power of a greener supply chain and procurement models, and increase the visibility and transparency of sustainability requirements and expectations.

This can be accomplished by placing a greater emphasis on procurement processes and better engagement with the supply chain. By integrating sustainability concepts into prequalification and selection processes, consultants and contractors can be filtered and selected in a transparent and efficient manner.

In the first instance, we should be increasing awareness of the significance and necessity of sustainability for the project and parties involved in its daily operations. Over time, increased stringency of requirements, whether based on type and methods of disclosure, experience, and technical comprehension, will shape the conversation between contractor and client.

Those contractors with the willingness to collaborate with the client on mid- to long-term decarbonisation initiatives should be rewarded. We don’t need to start at 100 percent compliance, but we do need to engage in dialogue with the supply chain and subject matter experts to determine where we are and where we need to go.

With the built environment being a key enabler of net-zero ambitions, we must act soon and harness the power of procurement and proactive supply chain management. Taking a timely approach to sustainable procurement can help clients integrate sustainability into their programmes, projects, and established supply chains right from the outset.

All of the above contributes to the overall net-zero trajectory, bolstering the socioeconomic objective, and providing the potential for truly sustainable growth. With ambitious national agendas, as well as the UAE hosting COP28 this year, the region has a great chance to influence the future of the industry.

But getting there means measuring progress and monitoring impact through robust data collection, validation, and coordinated action. Moreover, sustainable procurement has the potential to foster the development of flourishing new economies centred on circularity, operational management, modern construction techniques, and digitalisation. That is an evergreen legacy worth pursuing.