ABSTRACT
The construction sector of each country has a particular responsibility as the pollution from greenhouse gas emissions spills over into other countries, and buildings and infrastructure are seen as a major source of pollution. It is often assumed that the customers’ priorities are the most important ones to satisfy, perhaps because the customers are driving the agenda in most cases. Government also has a role to play as guardian of the common good. Good practice in one country can be cancelled out by the pollution caused by contractors operating in another. Carbon trading has been suggested as one way of dealing with the problem but the extent to which it can be used effectively in such a fragmented sector as construction is debatable. The United Kingdom (UK) industry must aspire to be competitive and be comparable to the construction industries of other countries.
