Insight into the Implementation of Sustainable Construction Project Management; A Comparative Analysis of the UK and Iraq

The construction industry is among the most important, accounting for 10% of GDP and providing at least 7% of jobs worldwide (Djokoto, Dadzie and Ohemeng-Ababio 2014), but it also consumes about 40% of all energy generated, 40% of raw materials, 25% of timber and 16% of total water consumption, while generating about 35–40% of CO2 emissions and 30–40% of all solid waste. There is, therefore, a strong impetus for construction to be conducted more sustainably, and this is particularly important in developing economies that are seeing a rapid expansion in construction, but which are currently often poorly equipped to manage sustainable construction projects. It is in this context that this study seeks to identify the most significant drivers and barriers affecting the implementation of sustainable construction projects in Iraq, comparing these to the situation in the UK. The outcomes of this study contribute knowledge about the current state of sustainable construction in Iraq and provide a basis for the future development of sustainable projects within the country. Data is gathered from the literature and an online questionnaire of relevant professionals in Iraq.

The findings indicate that sustainable construction is mainly perceived as an environmental issue in Iraq, rather than as having social and economic elements. The main barriers to implementing sustainable construction projects in Iraq are the high cost, lack of clients’ awareness, lack of government support, lack of qualified staff, and lack of consideration of sustainability when evaluating bids. The most important drivers, meanwhile, were raising stakeholders’ awareness, providing financial incentives, positing legislations and rules, increasing energy efficiency, and supplying sustainable tools and equipment for projects. Based on the comparison with the UK situation, which identified many similar concerns, albeit, with different rankings, a number of recommendations were made to support sustainable construction in Iraq. These focused on the measure to improve awareness and understanding of sustainable construction among the professional community in Iraq, encouraging investment in these projects and supporting the development of regulations and standards to underpin a sustainable approach in the industry.