Materials
The wonder of wood By Megan Dunn
The construction industry is one of the largest in New Zealand, and one of the most lucrative. It contributes greatly to our economy and is an essential sector for growth and prosperity in our nation. Statista New Zealand reported that the GDP contribution of the construction industry reached over 16.6 billion New Zealand dollars in the year ended March 2020. In the first quarter of 2021, over 170 thousand people were employed in this industry; a significant increase from just a decade prior. According to The World Health Organisation, climate change is the biggest health threat facing humanity today and without serious intervention on a global and community level the effects — which we are already seeing some of today — will soon become unavoidable as they have the potential to collapse our very security on earth. 12 | B&R
www.buildandrenovate.co.nz
Everyone has to play their part in reducing their personal environmental footprint however, when industry heavyweights commit to combatting climate change, this sets the precedence for a sustainable future and reflects back positively on the community and nation as a whole. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has set a timeframe, saying that we need to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, and to reduce emissions by 50 percent by 2030, if we are to steer clear of a range of climate change impacts. Information collected by the New Zealand Green Building Council states that Emissions from the construction industry have increased by 66 percent in the decade from 2007 - 2017. Furthermore, New Zealand’s built environment is responsible for 20 percent of the country›s carbon footprint.
