Sustainability and Its Issues in Malaysian Construction Industry

Abstract:

Construction industry is very important to the global urbanization. At the same time, the construction industry itself has tremendous impact on the environment especially during the construction and operation stage. All economic sectors, including construction industry, currently face an inescapable challenge posed by the term of sustainable development. The construction industry also lags behind compared to other sectors in its response to the term of sustainable development. The construction activities can contribute in putting sustainable development into practice by enhancing and protecting the natural environment, minimising its impact on the consumption of energy and natural resources especially during the construction stage. The construction industry faces its most serious challenge over the next two to three decades in finding appropriate solutions to overcome many issues regarding the term of sustainable development.

This paper attempts to identify the current level of sustainable construction practices among the Malaysian construction practitioners.