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

Wenmei Fei, Alex Opoku, Kofi Agyekum, James Anthony Oppon, Vian Ahmed, Charles Chen and Ka Leung Lok
Additional contact information
Wenmei Fei: Faculty of Real Estate Marketing, Chongqing College of Architecture and Technology, Chongqing 401331, China
Alex Opoku: UCL Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction, University College London, London WC1E 7HB, UK
Kofi Agyekum: Department of Construction Technology and Management, Faculty of Built Environment, College of Art and Built Environment, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi AK 384, Ghana
James Anthony Oppon: Department of Building Technology, School of Built and Natural Environment, Cape Coast Technical University, Cape Coast CC 156, Ghana
Vian Ahmed: College of Engineering, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 26666, United Arab Emirates
Charles Chen: College of Business and Information Technology, University of Phoenix, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
Ka Leung Lok: National Research Base of Intelligent Manufacturing Service, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing 400067, China

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 16, 1-21

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: construction industry; sustainable business; sustainable development; SDG2030; Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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