Question

How do construction activities affect the environment?

Answer 1

1. Loss of forest wood: Building construction accounts for 25% of the forest wood used in the world each year. Forest timber is harvested for construction and as fuel for manufacturing building materials faster than it can be replaced by planting new trees or by natural growth.
2. Loss of agricultural land: Agricultural land is often lost through urbanisation and extraction of raw materials. Building construction accounts for 40% of the raw stone, gravel, and sand in the world each year.
3. Loss of fossil fuels: Fossil fuels, which are used extensively in kiln processes to produce building materials and energy generation for building operations, have limited reserves. The reserves of some metals will be gone in less than 30 years if the current rate of exploitation continues.
4. Pollution: The consumption of fossil fuels contributes to increased air pollution and emissions of greenhouse gases. Construction-related activities contribute also to the release of ozone-depleting substances that damage the ozone layer.