Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals in construction industry - a systemic consideration of synergies and trade-offs

Abstract

According to sustainability research the world has exceeded four out of seven planetary boundaries. The areas of climate change, biodiversity loss, nitrogen cycle and land use have left the so called safe operating space for humanity. The built environment is one of the major contributors to environmental impacts. Especially the embodied energy during the construction phase of the built environment and the energy demands during the use of buildings contribute to a high energy and resource consumption. In the year 2015 the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a universal development agenda, which goals need to be fulfilled by the year 2030 and by all UN countries worldwide. Amongst other countries Austria has adopted the 2030 agenda and has committed itself to the SDGs. Research objective was to explore the application of systemic approaches in the field of SDGs. The work presents a systematic literature review (SLR) and discusses an application of a qualitative system analysis (carried out with the tool iMODELER) on the SDGs. Results show how interdependencies among SDGs and among chosen concrete actions, e.g. for the built environment, can be visualized for a better systemic understanding. By visualizing synergies and trade-offs, effects of decisions taken can be estimated from a holistic perspective.

The Critical Role of the Construction Industry in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Delivering Projects for the Common Good

“…This means that the construction industry sees itself playing a pivotal role in achieving this goal by inclusively making cities and human settlements safe, resilient and sustainable. This finding concurs with that reported in other studies [35,66,67].…”

“…This SDG was ranked as second (MS = 4.56, SD = 0.570), an indication of the construction industry's seriousness towards achieving it (see Tables 3 and 4). Other related studies have identified this SDG [35,66,67] as important, especially as the construction industry worldwide seek ways to reduce their impacts on the environment.…”

The Crossovers and Connectivity between Systems Engineering and the Sustainable Development Goals: A Scoping Study

“…Systems science is broken down into systems theory, systems analysis and cybernetics [56]. The perspectives gained from systems theory and cybernetics contributes to various interdisciplinary approaches.…”

Challenges of a Healthy Built Environment: Air Pollution in Construction Industry

“…The Agenda 2030 can provide a framework for policy instruments and measures for transforming the construction industry in the interest of a more sustainable and healthier built environment. As the SDGs are interrelated and there are systemic interactions among the SDGs in the construction industry [138,139], some SDGs and their targets refer to air pollution. The topic of health is addressed in SDG target 3.9. and is also reflected in the articles, e.g., through the sick building syndrome or the topic of well-being in buildings, in schools and offices among others, and in the research field of indoor air pollution and indoor air quality.…”