The Climate Change: Constructed Environment and Labour Market Trilogy

Climate change will have a considerable impact on the constructed environment. More specifically, policies and regulations made will impact on construction labour and have future implications for the delivery of climate adaptive property. This paper will examine the implications of climate change policy for the constructed environment labour market. It discusses whether policymakers and regulators are sufficiently informed and aware to accommodate the requirements of a low carbon workplace and whether the actors in the workplace can effectively implement the technical, regulatory and social reforms. The paper concludes that the current initiatives are individually suitable but government models are generally incomplete, lack cohesion and so do not deliver to the extent required by industry or the workplace actors. Recent studies find that there are changes occurring in the labour market as a consequence of climate change (GHK Consulting 2007; ETUC, 2007; Worldwatch Institute, 2008). They also find that skills shortages are a binding constraint on the sector, and that it will continue to be difficult to source workers in the number and with the skills required. These changes are a reflection of the industry’s moves to adapt to the new conditions, and the scaling up required to undertake the work that will reduce the energy consumed and the volume of emissions for which the constructed environment is responsible. Employers’ organisations and trade unions play an active role in the provision of sector and labour market information to policy makers, advocating the collective interests of their constituents who otherwise do not have the opportunity for input on policy and regulatory matters. They also serve as the interface between business and labour interests, and policy makers and regulators. Employers’ organisations and trade unions responsibilities include labour relations and social dialogue in respect of climate change. The paper finds these objectives overlap in some areas and therefore create the potential to infringe regulatory jurisdictions. Diligence is necessary to ensure that labour and management can remain focused on the delivery of goods and services, while also undertaking the measures necessary to adapt to the requirements of a low carbon economy. The constructed environment: is a major contributor to economic growth and employment, providing 10% of global gross domestic product and employing 5-10% of total employment.