Standardization of reporting carbon in construction projects: an illustrated example

Given that in today’s world, the effects of climate change are becoming more pronounced, sustainable development is a key focus for global growth. Although the construction industry is widely known to be linked to the economic success of many nations, it is at a critical turning point, because of the growing need to reduce the harm caused by construction activities to the environment. Transitioning to sustainable construction practices represents a moral duty and an essential economic imperative in pursuing a greener future. The promulgated International Cost Management Standard (ICMS), with its confluence of cost management and carbon measurement, emerges as a catalyst for this transformation, providing the navigational compass and guiding stakeholders toward a future where ecological harmony coexists with infrastructural advancement. The challenges faced by these initiatives are manifold, but equally, the stakes are high. For starters, understanding ‘how much carbon’ is crucial, because we cannot manage what we cannot measure. This chapter offers an illustrated worked example in carbon measurement and reporting based on the third edition of the ICMS, which, unlike its predecessors, integrates carbon emissions, allowing decisions about design, construction, operation, and measurement of the built environment that optimize environmental sustainability. The chapter discusses broader aspects of climate change and sustainability, explaining their nexus with the construction industry. A review of various efforts on measurement and reporting of carbon is conducted, including a discussion of the key challenges in implementing various carbon-related standards. The chapter then introduces the ICMS, with a detailed explanation of the standard, followed by a step-by-step illustration of its applicability based on case studies. The case study examples are two construction projects that are based on the Ugandan construction industry—a road project and a school project. The choice of the context and the projects is strategic, given the pressures on the developing world to follow a low-carbon path to development. The demonstrations, based on real-life construction projects, provide learners and carbon enthusiasts with a structured, step-by-step approach to problem-solving, reinforcing their understanding and enabling real-world application of carbon measurement, backed up by the standardization offered by ICMS. For the examples considered, findings underscore the significant impact of structural works on total embodied carbon and as such, the need to make various decisions regarding materials and equipment selection when managing carbon emissions on building projects. The demonstrated carbon reporting would serve as a crucial tool for stakeholders to understand the projects’ environmental impact and explore ways to reduce the carbon footprint, such as using recycled materials or optimizing construction processes. The implications of this work align with global sustainability goals and empower stakeholders to make informed decisions that balance economic and social development with environmental responsibility.