Big conference, big debates

As I write this, the first show daily for the Big 5 is heading to the printers, while each member of the team is preparing invitations to the guests - all A-List, I might add - who'll be joining them for dinner at the Construction Week awards on Monday night.

The word ‘excited' doesn't go far enough to describe how the team is feeling about the impending week ahead.

I have it on strict authority that they're looking forward to scouring the halls of the Dubai World Trade Centre for scoops for the remaining four show dailies. They're also preparing to cover the inaugural Construction Week conference, which runs on Monday and Tuesday.

In many ways, the conference comes at an ideal time. Labour issues have reached a point where definitive action needs to be taken, while the paramount importance of instilling and maintaining a culture of health and safety has been further compounded by a recent spate of site accidents.

Another area that will inevitably stir some debate at the event is sustainability, and how exactly the industry will go about fulfilling the objective announced earlier this month of ensuring all buildings are constructed according to ‘green' standards from next January.

The subject has been one that has dominated most news agendas over the last year, backed by numerous official reports on climate change.

And as many of you are aware, the industry at the centre of much of the debate is construction.

Our news analysis this week focuses on how the waste generated by construction in the UAE is placing the country among the worst offenders of carbon dioxide production.

In Dubai alone, figures suggest that construction and demolition waste accounts for 75% of all waste produced, of which 50% could be recycled.

The new green building regulations should go some way to improving this, as part of the specifications will include the use of recycled material such as plastic.

But an even bigger emphasis on recycling construction waste will be needed if the UAE wants to see its name slide down the global carbon dioxide production league table.

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