The construction and building materials sector is one of the most important to the global economy, considering its value and contribution to economic growth, quality of life, and creation of jobs worldwide. Nevertheless, construction activities might have considerable impacts on the marine environment, mainly caused by GHG emissions, water pollution, and seafloor disturbances due to the extraction of sand.

Do you know how the construction industry can affect marine ecosystems?

Here are some details for you to know:

• The construction sector is responsible for almost one-third of the world’s total energy consumption and nearly 15% of direct CO2 emissions, contributing to global warming, ocean acidification and deoxygenation.

• Chemicals and heavy metals used in construction activities can enter rivers or streams through stormwater and wastewater discharge, eventually reaching the ocean and contributing to changes in the chemical composition of seawater and water quality.

• The dredging and extraction of sand from the seafloor used for certain construction activities can lead to the degradation of seabed morphology, ultimately affecting marine habitats and biodiversity, reducing the faunal abundance, and shifting species composition.

On the bright side, some of the best practices to reduce the pressures on the marine environment include:

• The switch to renewable energy to limit emissions.

• The use of more sustainable raw materials.

• The integration of a management hierarchy based on a circularity approach to handle waste products.