The goal is to curb global warming gas emissions and prevent the plundering of pristine beaches of sand.

"The construction and use of buildings generate substantial social and economic benefits to society, but may also have serious negative impacts on the environment," the Director of the UNEP's Division of Technology, Industry and Economics, Monique Barbut, said Tuesday at the Paris launch.

"One key area of concern is the large share of energy use, with associated greenhouse gas emissions, that the built environment accounts for. In some countries the built environment is responsible for up to 40 per cent of total energy use," added Barbut, whose division hosts the secretariat of the Sustainable Building and Construction Initiative.

Construction giants Lafarge, Skanska and Arcelor are among founding members of SBCI, which aims to promote environmental friendly practices across the vast industry, employing over 100 million people worldwide and contributing about 10 per cent of global Gross Domestic Product, UNEP said.

It is hoped that SBCI will help ensure buildings are routinely designed, constructed and maintained from an environmentally sustainable point of view over their life span. Other goals seek the increasing inclusion of sustainability considerations and requirements in legislation and building standards.

The industry seriously affects many of the world's most pressing environmental issues, like climate change, waste generation and depletion of natural resources, UNEP said.

Whether it's influencing multi-lateral environmental agreements, encouraging "green architecture" in high profile buildings or tackling topics like the illegal plundering of sand, the challenges for the industry are regarded as immense.

http://www.upi.com/InternationalIntelligence/view.php?StoryID=20060221-053433-6885r

Updated : 7/19/2007