REDUCING LAND USE IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR AS AN IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO SUSTAINABLE CLIMATE PROTECTION
REDUCING LAND USE IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR AS AN IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO SUSTAINABLE CLIMATE PROTECTION

Summary/Abstract: Land use and the resulting land degradation is one of the major challenges for the coming decades worldwide and in particular in the EU Member States. This publication analyzes the environmental impacts of excessive land use and the measures that the construction sector needs to take, in line with the EU Land Strategy, to reduce these impacts and make a significant contribution to climate change mitigation. Demand for housing, including second homes, can be seen as one of the main drivers of land use. The principle of sufficiency, which aims to use land resources sparingly, is particularly important. In densely built cities, per capita land consumption is lower than in rural areas. Depending on the type of dwelling/settlement, more or less land is required. The combination of many efficient measures must help to reduce land consumption in the construction sector while promoting sustainable and liveable cities and communities. Sustainable construction in the future cannot be achieved without careful management of the soil ecosystem. The public sector is called upon to promote sound, energy-efficient and environmentally friendly construction and to support socially acceptable uses.

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