Bringing in ethics: A multi-stakeholder approach to manage the transition to low-carbon construction

Plaček, Michal; Valentinov, Vladislav; Fojtík, Roman; Ochrana, František; Peřinková, Martina Book Part — Published Version Bringing in ethics: A multi-stakeholder approach to manage the transition to low-carbon construction Suggested Citation: Plaček, Michal; Valentinov, Vladislav; Fojtík, Roman; Ochrana, František; Peřinková, Martina (2024) : Bringing in ethics: A multi-stakeholder approach to manage the transition to low-carbon construction, In: Galende Sánchez, Ester Sorman, Alevgul H. Cabello, Violeta Heidenreich, Sara Klöckner, Christian A. (Ed.): Strengthening European climate policy: Governance recommendations from innovative interdisciplinary collaborations, ISBN 978-3-031-72055-0, Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, pp. 111-123, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-72055-0_10 , https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-72055-0_10 This Version is available at: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/303025 Standard-Nutzungsbedingungen: Die Dokumente auf EconStor dürfen zu eigenen wissenschaftlichen Zwecken und zum Privatgebrauch gespeichert und kopiert werden. Sie dürfen die Dokumente nicht für öffentliche oder kommerzielle Zwecke vervielfältigen, öffentlich ausstellen, öffentlich zugänglich machen, vertreiben oder anderweitig nutzen. Sofern die Verfasser die Dokumente unter Open-Content-Lizenzen (insbesondere CC-Lizenzen) zur Verfügung gestellt haben sollten, gelten abweichend von diesen Nutzungsbedingungen die in der dort genannten Lizenz gewährten Nutzungsrechte. 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If the documents have been made available under an Open Content Licence (especially Creative Commons Licences), you may exercise further usage rights as specified in the indicated licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 CHAPTER 10 Bringing in Ethics: A Multi-stakeholder Approach to Manage the Transition to Low-Carbon Construction Michal Plaˇcek , Vladislav Valentinov, Roman Fojtík, František Ochrana, and Martina Peˇrinková Policy Highlights To achieve the recommendation stated in the title, we propose the following: •Policymakers should organise fair and balanced stakeholder engagement processes to address the key ethical trade-offs of the transition to low-carbon construction. •The public sector should take a proactive role in leading the lowcarbon transition and build strong cross-sectoral partnerships. M. Plaˇcek (B)·F. Ochrana Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic e-mail: [email protected] F. Ochrana e-mail: [email protected] V. Valentinov The Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO), Halle (Saale), Germany e-mail: V[email protected] © The Author(s) 2024 E. Galende Sánchez et al. (eds.), Strengthening European Climate Policy,https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-72055-0_10 111 112 M. PLA ˇ CEK ET AL. •Public sector leadership demands transparency and accountability which are crucial for navigating ethical trade-offs with the various stakeholders in the construction sector. •Policymakers should build a culture of sustainability and cultivate a shared understanding of ethics and values among all stakeholders. •To find creative solutions to the complex challenges associated with the transition to low-carbon construction, SSH and STEM collaboration should be supported. Keywords Low-carbon construction ·Ethics ·Stakeholder Participation ·Transparency ·Public sector leadership Introduction This chapter examines the ethical challenges of transitioning to lowcarbon construction and offers policy recommendations at the EU level to address them. Currently, the construction sector globally contributes to 37% of emissions and employs approximately 7% of the workforce (World Green Building Council 2023). Transforming this sector is critical for achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (e.g., SDGs 1–2, SDGs 11–12, and SDG17), as it has great potential to reduce resource and energy consumption, increase the use of renewable energy, minimise environmental degradation and waste, and enhance occupant health and comfort (González-Díaz & Garcia-Navarro, 2011, p. 295). We argue that the transition to low-carbon construction is not solely a technological issue but involves complex decision-making processes, including weighing short- and long-term costs and benefits across society and stakeholders. This process is inherently ethical. Ethical concerns in the R. Fojtík ·M. Peˇrinková VŠB Technická Univerzita, Ostrava, Czech Republic e-mail: [email protected] M. Peˇrinková e-mail: mar[email protected] 10 BRINGING IN ETHICS: A MULTI-STAKEHOLDER APPROACH … 113 construction sector include conflicts of interest, financial integrity, corruption, consumer and employee privacy, and ethical advertising (Sohail & Cavill, 2008). Furthermore, research suggests that the professional ethics of the civil engineering sector may conflict with sustainability goals while also acknowledging the above-mentioned ethical issues within the construction sector (Mares-Nasarre et al., 2023). The ethical complexity of transitioning to low-carbon construction requires an interdisciplinary approach. In this chapter, we, therefore, integrate insights from Public Policy, Sociology, Ethics, Materials Engineering, and Architecture to address how to manage ethical transitions. To achieve this, we utilised a mixed-method approach combining a systematic literature review and a workshop. The first step was a systematic literature review aimed at understanding the current state of knowledge on the ethical challenges of the low-carbon transition process. The literature review, conducted in September 2023 using the Web of Science database, identified 234 records using keywords such as “low carbon construction +ethics” and “sustainable construction +ethics”. The review affirms that the ethical complexity inherent in the transition to low-carbon construction spans various scientific subdisciplines, resulting in significant knowledge fragmentation. The majority of articles were classified under environmental sciences (33 articles), environmental studies (33 articles), ethics (27 articles), green & sustainable science & technology (26 articles), business (18 articles), and management (18 articles), among others. After an abstract review, 35 articles were selected for in-depth examination. The systematic literature review also informed the development of a scenario to be used at the collaborative workshop, which formed the second step of our mixed-method approach. The workshop facilitated collaboration among researchers from various fields and aimed to provide a space for the participants to collaborate on new technologies, services, products, or systems (Duchková, 2023). Participant recruitment involved purposive sampling to ensure the representation of various stakeholders. Nine respondents were selected, including an applied ethicist, materials engineer, construction company owner, bridge designer, ministry employee, sustainability researcher, university transfer representatives, and a former senior public sector employment manager. Given the diverse backgrounds of the workshop participants (education and experience), we provided explanations and definitions of basic concepts, such as ethics in low-carbon construction. 114 M. PLA ˇ CEK ET AL. At the workshop, conducted online in December 2023, participants received the above-mentioned scenario outlining key points, definitions, and questions derived from the systematic literature review. Participants were then asked to collaboratively define key concepts, unify knowledge levels, and discuss creative solutions to the ethical challenges of the transition to low-carbon construction. Moderated by one of the study authors, the workshop lasted approximately two hours and was recorded and transcribed. The data were coded using deductive and inductive approaches to explore new phenomena and mechanisms not previously described within the research framework. To minimise bias, the analysis was conducted by a team member different from the moderator (Jelínková et al., 2023). Participants were provided with a draft of the results for independent comments after the workshop. Results Ethical Dimensions and Stakeholders in Transitioning to Low-Carbon Construction Our examination has revealed that the ethical aspects of transitioning to low-carbon construction are fundamentally grounded in the human awareness of belonging to a larger interconnected system and the responsibility for life on this planet (Grunwald, 2001). However, effectively addressing this complexity requires breaking down these holistic insights into the interests of multiple stakeholders, which can often conflict (Rostamnezhad & Thaheem, 2022). During the literature review, we identified various stakeholders of relevance for the low-carbon transition in the construction sector, including government entities, developers, architects, engineers, and others. Participants in the workshop emphasised the importance of also including independent certification and compliance authorities, universities, and information brokers in the overview of relevant stakeholders. Participants were also asked to identify the stakeholders they considered “at-risk” due to negative effects of transition processes, such as increased costs, financial loss, or disruptions in the supply chain. Surprisingly, construction firms were not perceived as “at-risk stakeholders” during the transition; instead, materials producers were considered the most vulnerable. Discussions also touched upon the risk of unemployment. However, the participants noted even greater challenges regarding 10 BRINGING IN ETHICS: A MULTI-STAKEHOLDER APPROACH … 115 demographic issues and problems of securing the available workforce due to an ageing population. Our workshop revealed numerous potential ethical trade-offs faced by the diverse range of stakeholders (see Table 10.1). These diverse stakeholders and the various trade-offs they face highlight the intricate web of ethical considerations inherent in the transition to low-carbon construction, underscoring the need for comprehensive and inclusive approaches to address them. Resolving Trade-Offs Through Fair Stakeholder Interaction Addressing these trade-offs effectively ultimately requires fair and balanced stakeholder interaction processes (Valentinov, 2023). Our systematic literature review highlights the significance of cross-sectoral partnerships in stakeholder interaction (Andrews & Entwistle, 2010). These partnerships involve collaboration between the public sector, business, and the non-profit sector, aiming to address society’s main challenges. Building on these findings, our workshop results emphasise the crucial role of clear leadership. Participants in the living lab expressed their belief in the efficiency of markets during a low-carbon transition but stressed the vital role of the public sector in providing leadership, directing the transition, and aligning diverse stakeholder interests. However, they also acknowledged the need for the public sector to enhance its ability to lead change and collaborate with different stakeholder groups. “Creating a culture of sustainability, defined by values, beliefs, and behaviour favouring sustainability” (Yip Robin & Poon, 2009, p. 3617), was deemed essential. Another workshop outcome highlighted the importance of ethical precautions in designing financial support instruments such as grants, loans, and procurement. Public procurement, given its significant GDP allocation, was considered a key instrument. Participants stressed the necessity for transparent, value-for-money resource allocation to maintain legitimacy and credibility. Intelligent investment, which considers lifecycle costs and societal effects beyond merely pursuing the lowest price, was also emphasised. These tools should be institutionalised as long-term policy instruments. The workshop participants also emphasised information and transparency as integral components of accountability. They highlighted the 116 M. PLA ˇ CEK ET AL. Table 10.1 Overview of key stakeholders and ethical trade-offs Stakeholder type Actors Trade-Offs Considerations Government • Central government • Regional government • Local government • Leadership • Capacity allocation • Environmental stewardship • Cross-sectoral collaboration •Actingasa leader or allowing others to behave according to their rationality • Allocating capacity to the low-carbon transition versus other government tasks • Balancing complianceoriented behaviour with accountability pressures, and potential weakening of discipline for specific stakeholder involvement Companies • Main contractors • Subcontractors • Suppliers • Managers • Employers • Developers •Profitvs. environmental and societal goals • Balancing long-term and short-term effects • Managing interests within thesupplychain • Navigating between conservative biases and fostering innovation (continued) 10 BRINGING IN ETHICS: A MULTI-STAKEHOLDER APPROACH … 117 Table 10.1 (continued) Stakeholder type Actors Trade-Offs Considerations Professional communities •Architects • Structural engineers • Electrical and mechanical engineers • Surveyors • Professional ethics vs. personal interests • Balancing transparency and openness of communication versus public comprehensibility • Balancing precaution versus speed of innovation Environmental lobby groups •NGOs • Lobbyists • Think tanks • Accountability vs. members’ interests • Balancing socioenvironmental impact and lobby group interests Media organisations • Newspapers •TVs&radios • New media • Journalists • Professional associations •Owners • Shareholders • Shareholder interests vs. the interests of readers • Balancing revenue from advertisements versus firms’ environmental impacts • Reducing the complexity of information and making it clear to the reader • Balancing the verification of the veracity of the information with the speed of publication Environmental management accreditation bodies and independent certification organisations • Public sector organisations • Private sector organisations • Consultancies • Ethical values and integrity vs. the interests of clients • Focusing on accountability, transparency, and fulfilling professional standards (continued) 118 M. PLA ˇ CEK ET AL. Table 10.1 (continued) Stakeholder type Actors Trade-Offs Considerations Higher education institutions, research institutions, and training providers • Public and private universities • Public and private research institutions • Education companies • Quality and integrity, speed of publication, independence of research vs interests of funders •Scientificresults should be freely available to all, and the underlying data should be accessible and meet the requirements of transparency and replicability • Communicate scientific results inclusive for all social groups • Mechanisms should be put in place to protect researchers with critical views on certain topics from institutional pressure Funding institutions • Public institutions • Private institutions • Pressure to deliver results versus uncertainty in scientific knowledge • Openness in funding and the originality and disruptiveness of projects should be evaluated, not previous results, seniority, and perceived prestige • Accept the risk of failure as a normal part of scientific work General public • Personal bias vs innovation, rationality vs emotions • Balance environmental engagement with privacy considerations Source Authors