Implementation of environmental management in the construction industry of China

Abstract

The construction industry generates serious environmental impacts, comparing which with other industries, it lags far behind in implementing environmental management (EM). Using a structured questionnaire survey, this paper explores the characteristics of the Chinese construction firms including the environmental awareness in construction, behaviors towards environmental management and measures for environmental management. By means of analyzing the relative importance, the top five out of thirty factors affecting implementation of environmental management are: environmental consciousness of top leader; environmental consciousness of middle management; effective implementation of the relevant regulations on EM; legal system; and legal enforcement. Some measures are recommended including promoting environmental management by organizing training on environmental management and establishing a proper legal framework by the Chinese government.