The drivers and strategies of carbon reduction in projects: perceptions of the Australian construction practitioners

The construction sector has been experiencing tension to eradicate their carbon-intensive ways of operations. Furthermore researchers have put forward several strategies to reduce carbon emissions from construction operations. However, the construction sector has not yet changed operational practices. As with any initiative, organizational behavior can be a major barrier to change. This study sought to investigate how carbon reduction strategies are enacted by construction organizations. Data was collected by a survey conducted in Victoria, Australia. The results indicate that most carbon reduction strategies are rarely adopted in construction projects. Such findings are in line with comments made by some scholars on the construction practitioners being apathetic to reduce carbon emissions. While scholars and policy makers endeavour to advance technologies and tighten regulations, the affordability of the affected industry was unfortunately ignored. Effort should be directed to assisting the industry to formulate costs and benefits as a result of carbon reduction.