Incorporating Education for Sustainability into the Construction Law Curriculum

Abstract

Abstract This paper applies the concept of education for sustainability to the teaching of construction law. Given that the built environment is responsible for 25% of the United Kingdom’s greenhouse gas emissions, there is a need for legal and construction professionals to engage meaningfully with sustainability. The author has carried out a review of existing material relevant to legal issues relating to the environmental aspects of sustainability in the context of construction projects. This material has been evaluated for its relevance and significance to the construction law curriculum. Based on this, four key areas have been identified for the incorporation of education for sustainability into the construction law syllabus, namely contract drafting for sustainability, the incorporation of environmental objectives into procurement processes, aspects of environmental law applicable to construction projects and how sustainability issues may feed into or result in construction disputes. This article explores how these four key areas can be integrated into the construction law syllabus, and examines pedagogical approach and implications for curricular and assessment processes. It also puts forward the benefits of doing this both for students and industry. Finally, this article argues that incorporating sustainability into the construction law curriculum does not require the creation of an entirely new subject or stand-alone module. The legal issues raised by sustainability relate to areas such as contracts, procurement, and dispute resolution, which are already embedded in the core subject matter of construction law. Instead, a reorientation of existing content can be achieved to emphasize the environmental imperatives.