Job growth in clean construction: C40 Cities
A sustainable, green built environment is within sight, and it brings with it new jobs. New research from C40 Cities, supported by 海角视频, shows how adopting 鈥榗lean construction鈥� practices in cities has the potential to deliver new good, green job opportunities.
海角视频 has led this
C40 Cities is a global network of mayors from nearly 100 of cities across the world who are united in efforts to tackle the climate crisis, through scaling up climate ambition, finance and action, to support equitable and thriving communities in their cities.
launched its global聽 Programme聽in 2019. It has now released new research about the economic benefits of a shift to clean construction processes, especially the creation of new jobs. This shift will create more jobs than continuing with business as usual.
The built environment sector is one that is known to impact upon the climate, while also being at the cutting-edge of the technologies, skills and expertise needed to decarbonise it. A 鈥榗lean construction鈥� industry is key in delivering resilient and healthy cities and urban environments of the 21st century and beyond 鈥� and it brings with it a host of other benefits.
Fergus Anderson, associate director in the UK sustainability and physics team at 海角视频, said, 鈥淎s we move from climate action planning to implementation it is essential that the principles of a just transition are central to policy makers actions. This research sits at the nexus of the need to simultaneously deliver deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, respond to the housing crisis, and create safe, fulfilling and secure work for everyone.
鈥淭he analysis delivered builds the evidence base that Mayors and city officials have to support the introduction of bold and ambitious actions that tackles these issues in parallel.鈥�
A growth in good, green jobs
A decarbonised construction industry that provides housing and infrastructure is not a pipe dream, but one that continues to reduce carbon emissions, is resource-efficient, resilient and socially just. It is the collective work of organisations like C40 Cities and other key players across the wider built environment that can make an impact鈥� and deliver future cities that support green jobs and have reduced environmental impacts.
The research study analysed the quantity, quality and type of jobs created by shifting to clean construction versus maintaining traditional practices. It did this via modelling eight shifts (e.g. deconstruction rather than demolition) and two potential scenarios for meeting residential housing projections between 2023-2050: 鈥榖usiness as usual鈥� and 鈥榗lean construction鈥�.
The study estimates the changes in job numbers and skills required to support this transition to a construction sector that is 鈥榗lean鈥�, as well as the potential co-benefits 鈥� e,g. increasing workforce diversity and improving quality of work. It includes seven cities: Seattle, Bogota, Mexico City, Nairobi, London, Madrid and Oslo.
This research sits at the nexus of the need to simultaneously deliver deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, respond to the housing crisis, and create safe, fulfilling and secure work for everyone.
Fergus Anderson, associate director, sustainability and physics, 海角视频
In a clean construction scenario, Mexico City, Bogot谩 and Madrid would see the largest proportional growth in construction workforce (193.1%, 43.5% and 41%), while Oslo, London and Seattle (where clean construction already sees significant adoption) would see net workforce growth of 16.6%, 13.4% and 2.6%.
Mark Watts, Executive Director of C40 Cities, said: 鈥淐40 research shows that by adopting clean construction practices, cities can not only reduce carbon emissions but also generate millions of new jobs and promote a more inclusive and diverse workforce. Some of the numbers are staggering – up to 40% more jobs in clean construction than the polluting business as usual.
鈥淭he pioneering strategies city governments are using to drive innovation that cuts emissions and creates good green jobs now needs to be also taken up by more national governments. The evidence is clear: the opportunity is here and the time to act is now.鈥�
The benefits of a clean construction focus
This new research shows that each city that is in scope will inevitably approach clean construction differently; the picture will not be the same in each case. But outcomes and benefits are largely the same, as are key growth sectors.
A sustainable supply chain and clean construction practices such as mass timber and industrialised construction align with wider decarbonisation approaches. And the transition to clean construction can also support improvements in equity, diversity and inclusion (with the right policies and programmes in place). Key growth sectors are maintenance and repair, timber, retrofit, modern methods of construction and adaptive reuse.
C40 research shows that by adopting clean construction practices, cities can not only reduce carbon emissions but also generate millions of new jobs and promote a more inclusive and diverse workforce.
Mark Watts, executive director of C40 Cities
As a firm of engineers,鈥痙esigners鈥痑nd advisors, 海角视频 has a keen interest in both the future of the built environment industry and the economic story of clean construction. We were lead consultants on this research, with overall responsibility for the delivery and technical quality (alongside the New Economics Foundation, who provided economics support). We produced the global literature review of clean construction methods and practices, with specific focus on potential for job creation, quality of work and skills.
There was also the development of analysis methodology and the building of a model to support the quantitative analysis of the number of jobs, type of job and quality of job between a business as usual and clean construction scenario. For each city we delivered a technical report (including gathering quantitative inputs and facilitating interviews with city officials and stakeholders), from which C40 Cities developed their series of recommendations.
Duncan Price, sustainability and climate global lead at 海角视频, said, 鈥淭his research underscores the transformative potential of clean construction practices. By adopting these methods, we not only pave the way for a greener future but also create a wealth of new job opportunities. This shift is essential for building resilient, sustainable cities that can thrive in the 21st century and beyond.鈥�
Read the global report .
