Lok Sabha Question No. 1491 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-13
Subject: Carbon Emission from Construction Industry
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: Dr. Amar Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1491

## TO BE ANSWERED ON FEBRUARY 13, 2025

## CARBON EMISSION FROM CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

NO. 1491.   DR. AMAR SINGH:

Will the Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that materials used in  the  construction  industry  contribute  to  25-27%  of  the  total carbon emissions during a project's lifecycle with constructions contributing 2-3%, operations accounting for 69-70% and
- demolitions responsible for 2-3%; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the corrective steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government considering that embodied carbon can be reduced by using low carbon materials in the construction of urban infrastructure and buildings?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS (SHRI TOKHAN SAHU)

- (a)  No.  However,  as  per  2022  Global  Status  report  for  Buildings  and Construction by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), The building and construction sector contributed to 37% of global carbon emission, out of which 10 GtCO2 (74%) of the carbon emission is from building operations, & 3.6 GtCO2 (26%) of the carbon emission is from production of building materials ( i.e. concrete, steel, aluminium, glass and bricks) during the year 2021.
- (b) The  Central  Govt.  has  taken  several  initiatives  including  helping reduce  the  carbon  emissions  in  the  construction  of  buildings  and urban infrastructure, the same are as under:

- (i) A new chapter on Approach to Sustainability has been introduced as part 11 of the National Building Code 2016 by BIS, which provides a comprehensive set of requirements, intended to reduce the negative impact of buildings on the natural environment.
- (ii) The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under Ministry of Power, GoI has  formulated  the  Energy  Conservation  Building  Code  (ECBC)  for commercial  buildings.  It  has  also  brought  out  Eco  Niwas  Samhita (ENS)-2018,  the  Energy  Conservation  Building  Code  for  Residential Buildings.  The  Part-  I  of  ENS  2018  focuses  on  building  envelope. Further,  BEE  has  come  out  with  Eco-Niwas  Samhita  2021  (Code Compliance  and  Part-II:  Electro-Mechanical  and  Renewable  Energy Systems). These Codes primarily focuses on improving energy efficiency & reducing emissions, during the operational phase of the buildings.
- (iii) CPWD has also brought out Guidelines on SUSTAINABLE HABITAT, which includes the aspects such as Architectural Design and Layout, Sustainability index and Guidelines for materials, Guidelines for selection  of  equipment  for  Electrical  and  Mechanical  Services  for sustainable buildings & Guidelines on reuse and recycling of construction and demolition waste.
- (iv)  Building  Materials &  Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC), the autonomous organization under Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs is also working towards promotion of cost effective, environment friendly materials & technologies. A number of materials & technologies such as fly ash brick, Autoclaved Aerated (AAC) Blocks & Panels, bamboo corrugated  sheet,  bamboo  wood  applications,  prefab  systems  for roofing & walling and other emerging technologies suitable for green buildings  are  being  promoted  by  the  Council  through  evaluation  & certification, Seminar, Exhibition, Workshop and Demonstration Construction.

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