Cleaner Engineering and Technology (Feb 2022)
Modeling investment policies effect on environmental indicators in Egyptian construction sector using system dynamics
Abstract
Construction stakeholders aim at limiting the impact of the construction sector on the natural environment to assure sustainability. The construction industry forms a significant portion of the Egyptian GDP and employs millions of labor force and consumes most of the country's energy and its primary resources. Egypt faces dual pressure of maintaining economic growth and largely reducing carbon emissions. This study aims at exploring the effect of finance-growth-energy nexus on carbon emissions for Egypt over the 1990–2050 period. By employing the system dynamics approach, the study tries to capture the impact of some investment policies on the consumption of energy, financial development and economic growth in addition to linking them with the carbon emissions of Egypt in a simulation model using Vensim® PLE software. The model provides the policy makers with a simulating tool supporting their decisions. The findings reveal that both construction technology, represented in construction materials and construction machinery, and labor education are main keys of true sustainable development. Several policies are examined to study system behavior and revealed that it is not enough to capture the technology in order to achieve development, and suitable education and training courses should be provided to deliver labor force that can use and improve such technologies. The proposed methodology aids construction in Egypt which is considered a strong indicator of the country's economic strength. The construction industry forms a significant portion of the Egyptian GDP and employs millions of labor force and consumes most of the country's energy and its primary resources. To remain vital, the construction industry is demanding better, safer, energy-efficient and more affordable construction materials and technology.
