EcoVentures will discuss the impact of construction industry on climate change at a lecture entitled ‘Climate Change and Construction’ in Dubai.

EcoVentures is the Middle East strategic partner of the CarbonNeutral Company, a global pioneer in the provision of carbon management services. 

The lecture, co-hosted by The Emirates Green Building Council in association with The British University in Dubai, is a first of a series of lectures on environmental issues.

The key speakers include EcoVentures managing director Shezan Amiji and also Nicola Clarke, the health and safety manager and environmental advisor for Saudi property and investment company Sabban Property Investments.

“The construction industry is beginning to realise the importance of having a green agenda; however implementing the necessary strategies to address the issues is a real challenge for developers and construction companies alike,” said Amiji.

“Our role is to help and support these organisations and companies in their bid to reduce their environmental impact and advise on the best ways to offset their carbon footprint.

Studies conducted by the UAE ministry of economy and commerce have shown that 70 per cent of Dubai’s power consumption is currently utilised in commercial and residential buildings, a trend which will only increase with the large number of property developments in the city.

Although individuals can take a wide number of actions to reduce their carbon footprint, the majority of the environmental impact created by a building is set by the design and construction of the building itself.

Efficient cooling systems, insulation and a  number of other aspects of building design and construction have a much greater long term impact on how ‘green’ the building is, he pointed out.

“The critical challenges faced by the construction and real estate development industry in creating viable projects with a lower environmental impact have to be met at every stage of the process, from site selection,design through to selecting the final finishes of a building.'

'Meeting these challenges in an informed, effective and yet cost-effective manner is a huge task and we recognise the difficulty of that task. However, help is at hand and we’ll be sharing some of the solutions at the Climate Change and Construction event,” Amiji added.