Appraising the impact of climate change on construction activities: Are the Nigerian practitioners prepared?

Andrew Ebekozien, Mohamed Ahmed Hafez Ahmed, Clinton Aigbavboa, Mohamad Shaharudin Samsurijan, Andrew Igiebor Awo-Osagie

Article ID: 3861
Vol 8, Issue 6, 2024

VIEWS - 537 (Abstract) 556 (PDF)

Abstract


Rapid global warming and continuous climate change threaten the construction industry and human existence, especially in developing countries. Many developed countries are engaging their professional stakeholders on innovation and technology to mitigate climate change on humanity. Studies concerning inclusive efforts by developing countries’ stakeholders, including Nigeria, are scarce. Thus, this study investigates the construction industry’s practitioners’ preparedness to mitigate climate change through pre- and post-planning. Also, the study appraises climate change’s impact on construction activities and proffered measures to mitigate them. The research employed face-to-face data collection via a qualitative approach. The researchers engaged 33 knowledgeable participants. The study covered Abuja, Benin City, Owerri, and Lagos and achieved saturation at the 30th participant. The research employed a thematic approach to analyse the collected data. Findings reveal that Nigerian construction practitioners cannot cope with climate change impacts because of lax planning and inadequate technology to mitigate the issues. Also, the government’s attitude towards climate change has not helped matters. Also, the study suggested measures to mitigate the impact of climate change on construction activities in Nigeria. Therefore, as part of the research contributions, all-inclusive and integrated regulatory policies and programmes should be tailored toward mitigating climate change. This includes integrated stakeholder sensitisation, investment in infrastructure that supports anti-climate change, prioritising practices in the industry to achieve sustainable project transformation, and integration of climate change interventions into pre- and post-contract administration.


Keywords


carbon emission; climate change; construction industry; Nigeria; technology; stakeholders

Full Text:

PDF


References


Agboola PO (2019). Exploring the impact of climate change on public space. Environmental Epidemiology, 3, 4–5. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.ee9.0000605640.12341.b0

Agboola, O. P., Alotaibi, B. S., Dodo, Y. A., et al. (2023). Built environment transformation in Nigeria: the effects of a regenerative framework. Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering, 23(2), 789–812. https://doi.org/10.1080/13467581.2023.2238045

Ahmed, N., Abdel-Hamid, M., Abd El-Razik, M. M., et al. (2021). Impact of sustainable design in the construction sector on climate change. Ain Shams Engineering Journal, 12(2), 1375–1383. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2020.11.002

Aigbavboa, C., Ebekozien, A., Afetorgbor, E. K., et al. (2024). Investigating the barriers facing corporate social responsibility in the built environment: Ghana’s perspective from a qualitative approach. Property Management. https://doi.org/10.1108/pm-07-2023-0060

Aigbavboa, C., Ebekozien, A., & Mkhize, N. (2023a). A qualitative approach to investigate governance challenges facing South African airlines in the fourth industrial revolution technologies era. Social Responsibility Journal, 19(8), 1507–1520. https://doi.org/10.1108/srj-07-2022-0278

Aigbavboa, C. O., Ebekozien, A., & Mkhize, N. (2023b). An assessment of South African airlines’ growth in the era of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies: the unexplored dimension. Journal of Facilities Management. https://doi.org/10.1108/jfm-07-2022-0076

Ajayi, S. O., Oyedele, L. O., Bilal, M., et al. (2015). Waste effectiveness of the construction industry: Understanding the impediments and requisites for improvements. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 102, 101–112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2015.06.001

Akan, M. O., Dileep, G., Dhavale, D. G., Sarkis, J. (2017). Greenhouse gas emissions in the construction industry: An analysis and evaluation of a concrete supply chain. Journal of Cleaner Production, 167, 1195–1207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.07.225

Al-Nuaimi, S., Banawi, A., Al-Ghamdi, S. (2019). Environmental and Economic Life Cycle Analysis of Primary Construction Materials Sourcing Under Geopolitical Uncertainties: A Case Study of Qatar. Sustainability, 11(21), 6000. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11216000

Alsheyab, M. A. T. (2021). Recycling of construction and demolition waste and its impact on climate change and sustainable development. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 19(3), 2129–2138. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-021-03217-1

Anastasiou, D., Tasopoulou, A., Gemenetzi, G., et al. (2021). Public’s perceptions of urban identity of Thessaloniki, Greece. URBAN DESIGN International, 27(1), 18–42. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41289-021-00172-8

Arefi, M., & Aelbrecht, P. (2022). Urban identity, perception, and urban design. URBAN DESIGN International, 27(1), 1–2. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41289-022-00179-9

Beyioku, J. (2016). Climate change in Nigeria: a brief review of causes, effects, and solutions. Available online: https://fmic.gov.ng/climate-change-nigeria-brief-review-causes-effects-solution/ (accessed on 7 March 2023).

Camilleri, M., Jaques, R., & Isaacs, N. (2001). Impacts of climate change on building performance in New Zealand. Building Research & Information, 29(6), 440–450. https://doi.org/10.1080/09613210110083636

Chinowsky, P., Hayles, C., Schweikert, A., et al. (2011). Climate change: comparative impact on developing and developed countries. Engineering Project Organization Journal, 1(1), 67–80. https://doi.org/10.1080/21573727.2010.549608

Chou, J., Dong, W., Yan, X. (2016). The impact of climate change on the socioeconomic system: a mechanistic analysis. Chinese Journal of Atmospheric Sciences, 40(1), 191–200. https://doi.org/10.3878/j.issn.1006-9895.1507.15131.

Corbin, J., Strauss, A. (2015). Basics of qualitative research: Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory, 4th ed. Thousand Oaks, California, USA: Sage.

Ebekozien, A., Aigbavboa, C., Emuchay, F. E., et al. (2022). Urban solid waste challenges and opportunities to promote sustainable developing cities through the fourth industrial revolution technologies. International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijbpa-09-2021-0119

Ebekozien, A., Aigbavboa, C., Nwaole, A. N. C., et al. (2023a). Quantity surveyor’s ethical responsiveness on construction projects: issues and solutions. International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, 41(5), 1049–1066. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijbpa-04-2021-0061

Ebekozien, A., Aigbavboa, C. O., & Samsurijan, M. S. (2023b). Appraising alternative building technologies adoption in low-cost housing provision to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 11. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 31(13), 41–58. https://doi.org/10.1108/ecam-06-2023-0538

Ebekozien, A., & Samsurijan, M. S. (2022). Incentivisation of digital technology takers in the construction industry. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management. https://doi.org/10.1108/ecam-02-2022-0101

Eurostat. (2018) Eurostat—Data Explorer. Available online: http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=env_ac_ainah_r2〈=en (accessed on 31 May 2023).

Ezeabasili, A., & Okonkwo, A. (2013). Climate Change Impacts on the Built Environment in Nigeria. African Research Review, 7(4), 288. https://doi.org/10.4314/afrrev.v7i4.18

Federici, S., Tubiello, F. N., Salvatore, M., et al. (2015). New estimates of CO2 forest emissions and removals: 1990–2015. Forest Ecology and Management, 352, 89–98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2015.04.022

Francart, N., Larsson, M., Malmqvist, T., et al. (2019). Requirements set by Swedish municipalities to promote construction with low climate change impact. Journal of Cleaner Production, 208, 117–131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.10.053

House of Lords. (2016). Select committee on national policy for the built environment: building better places; report of session 2015-16. Available online: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201516/ldselect/ldbuilt/100/10002.htm (accessed on 7 March 2023).

Hurlimann, A. C., Warren-Myers, G., & Browne, G. R. (2019). Is the Australian construction industry prepared for climate change? Building and Environment, 153, 128–137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2019.02.008

Ibrahim, F. S. B., Ebekozien, A., Khan, P. A. M., et al. (2022). Appraising fourth industrial revolution technologies role in the construction sector: how prepared is the construction consultants? Facilities, 40(7/8), 515–532. https://doi.org/10.1108/f-09-2021-0086

Isingoma, J. B. (2009). Climate change and energy in Africa. Climate Change Africa, 36.

Jaafar, M., Ebekozien, A., Mohamad, D. (2021). Community participation in environmental sustainability: A case study of proposed Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve, Malaysia. Journal of Facilities Management. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEM-03-2021-0033

Kahan, D. M., Jenkins-Smith, H., Tarantola, T., et al. (2015). Geoengineering and Climate Change Polarization. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 658(1), 192–222. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002716214559002

Kelman, I. (2017). Linking disaster risk reduction, climate change, and the sustainable development goals. Disaster Prevention and Management: An International Journal, 26(3), 254–258. https://doi.org/10.1108/dpm-02-2017-0043

Luo, L., Tang, Q., & Lan, Y. (2013). Comparison of propensity for carbon disclosure between developing and developed countries. Accounting Research Journal, 26(1), 6–34. https://doi.org/10.1108/arj-04-2012-0024

Morecroft, M. D., Duffield, S., Harley, M., et al. (2019). Measuring the success of climate change adaptation and mitigation in terrestrial ecosystems. Science, 366(6471). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaw9256

Morelli, J. (2011). Environmental Sustainability: A Definition for Environmental Professionals. Journal of Environmental Sustainability, 1(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.14448/jes.01.0002

Morse, J. M. (2015). Analytic Strategies and Sample Size. Qualitative Health Research, 25(10), 1317–1318. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732315602867

Ness, B., Urbel-Piirsalu, E., Anderberg, S., et al. (2007). Categorising tools for sustainability assessment. Ecological Economics, 60(3), 498–508. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2006.07.023

Nwankpa, A. (2022). Managing existential risk and climate resilience: the case of Nigeria. Available online: https://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2022/03/14/managing-existential-risk-and-climate-resilience-the-case-of-nigeria/ (accessed on 7 March 2023).

Odediran, S. J. (2013). Assessment of Business Development Strategies in the Nigerian Construction Industry. Journal of Business & Management, 2(1), 34–45. https://doi.org/10.12735/jbm.v2i1p34

Pajula T, Behm K, Vatanen S, Saarivuori E (2017). Managing the life cycle to reduce environmental impacts. In: Gr€osser SN, Arcadio Reyes-Lecuona A, Granholm G (editors). Dynamics of Lifelong Assets, Springer Nature, Switzerland.

Pero, M., Moretto, A., Bottani, E., et al. (2017). Environmental Collaboration for Sustainability in the Construction Industry: An Exploratory Study in Italy. Sustainability, 9(1), 125. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9010125

Plano-Clark, V. L., Creswell, J. W. (2015). Understanding research: A consumer guide, 2nd ed. Boston, USA: Pearson.

Rajabifard, A., Bueti, C., Zeng, L., et al. (2019). Urban drought challenge to 2030 sustainable development goals. Science of the Total Environment, 693, 133536. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.07.342

Saunders, B., Sim, J., Kingstone, T., et al. (2017). Saturation in qualitative research: exploring its conceptualization and operationalization. Quality & Quantity, 52(4), 1893–1907. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-017-0574-8

Saunders, M., Thornhill, A., Lewis, P. (2019). Research methods for business students. Harlow: Pearson Education.

Sharma, A., Saxena, A., Sethi, M., et al. (2011). Life cycle assessment of buildings: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 15(1), 871–875. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2010.09.008

Shittu, O. (2020). Emerging sustainability concerns and policy implications of urban household consumption: A systematic literature review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 246, 119034. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119034

Sutton, P. (2004). A Perspective on Environmental Sustainability? Available online: http://www.green-innovations.asn.au/A-Perspective-on-Environmental-Sustainability (accessed on 3 July 2023).

Svec, P., Berkebile, R., & Todd, J. A. (2012). REGEN: toward a tool for regenerative thinking. Building Research & Information, 40(1), 81–94. https://doi.org/10.1080/09613218.2012.629112

Tunji-Olayeni, P., Kajimo-Shakantu, K., & Osunrayi, E. (2020). Practitioners’ experiences with the drivers and practices for implementing sustainable construction in Nigeria: a qualitative assessment. Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, 9(4), 443–465. https://doi.org/10.1108/sasbe-11-2019-0146

Tunji-Olayeni, P., Omuh, I., Afolabi, A., et al. (2019). Effects of construction activities on the planetary boundaries. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1299(1), 012005. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1299/1/012005

Tyokumbur, E. T. (2014). Review of ecological perspectives on climate change in Nigeria. Am J. Environmental Eng Sci., 1(1), 36–49.

UNFCCC. (2015). The Paris agreement. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Bonn.

Van der Waal, J. W. H., Thijssens, T. (2020). Corporate involvement in sustainable development goals: exploring the territory. Journal of Cleaner Production, 252(119625). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119625.

Yilmaz, D. G. (2021). Model Cities for Resilience: Climate-led Initiatives. Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs, 5(1), 47–58. https://doi.org/10.25034/ijcua.2021.v5n1-4

Yin, R. K. (2014). Case study research: Design and methods 5th ed. Thousand Oaks, USA: Sage.

Yokoo, N., Oka, T., Yokoyama, K., Sawachi, T., Yamamoto, M. (2015). Comparison of embodied energy/co 2 of office buildings in China and Japan. Journal of Civil Engineering and Architecture, 9, 300–307. http://doi.org/10.17265/1934-7359/2015.03.008

Yuen, B., Kumssa, A. (2010). Africa and Asia: Two of the World’s Fastest Growing Regions. In: Climate Change and Sustainable Urban Development in Africa and Asia, 3–18. Dordrecht, Netherlands: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9867-2_1

World Health Organisation. (2021). Climate Change and Health. Available online: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/climate-change-and-health (accessed on 7 March 2023).




DOI: https://doi.org/10.24294/jipd.v8i6.3861

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2024 Andrew Ebekozien, Mohamed Ahmed Hafez Ahmed, Clinton Aigbavboa, Mohamad Shaharudin Samsurijan, Andrew Igiebor Awo-Osagie

License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.