Global Scans · Construction · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: 65 per cent of global construction growth for the next decade will happen in emerging markets. Smart cities, sustainable construction, greater urbanization and pre-fabricated buildings will all play their part in future construction growth.

• [New] At a historic moment, in which COP 30 will be guided not by the construction of a new agreement, but by the effective implementation of climate commitments, the Brazilian private sector has the chance to assume a transformative role: making climate action an irreversible path. MIT OpenCourseWare
• [New] The nuclear icebreakers could facilitate the transport of construction materials and equipment to remote areas in Alaska, where infrastructure is limited and weather conditions are harsh. gCaptain
• [New] According to a report by the Green Building Council of Australia, an average home built today will contribute 185 tonnes of CO2 equivalent during construction, compared to 24 tonnes of CO2 emitted over its lifetime. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• [New] Coastal protection efforts could cost $100 billion over the next 100 years, due to significant construction works. ST
• [New] Monsoon deluges triggered flash floods in Pakistan's northwest, killing more than 300 people, destroying homes and highlighting how construction on riverbanks amplifies climate risks. Winssolutions
• [New] Google's investment will fund the construction of a new data center campus in Stillwater and the expansion of its existing Pryor facility, significantly boosting its AI and cloud capacity in the US. Ainvest
• [New] Hydropower could play a big role in expanding electricity access in sub-Saharan Africa, but construction is expensive and changing rainfall patterns are making hydropower output unpredictable. IEEE Spectrum
• [New] Ever-changing announcements about tariffs on key construction inputs, along with potential retaliatory measures by U.S. trading partners, are making owners hesitant to commit to new projects. Insurance Journal
• [New] Construction investment is forecast to fall 8.1% on-year in 2025, a steeper decline compared with the 3.3% drop recorded last year. Yonhap News Agency
• [New] Most additions arrive after 2035, as progress on small modular reactors (SMRs) may be constrained by permitting timelines, first-of-a-kind construction and financing risks and immature supply chains. SightLine | U308
• [New] AIA anticipates that overall spending on nonresidential buildings, not adjusted for inflation, will increase only 1.7% in 2025 and grow very modestly to just 2% in 2026. Connect CRE
• [New] Construction on the Messina bridge is expected to begin in 2026. ABC News
• [New] The emphasis on sovereign infrastructure and localized chip fabrication, driven by geopolitical tensions involving Taiwan, will lead to massive investments in new semiconductor foundries in the U.S. and Europe, potentially benefiting equipment suppliers and construction firms. The Chronicle-Journal
• One of four President Donald Trump executive orders in May set to propel nuclear power resurgence, calls for having 10 large reactors under construction by 2030. / USA Engineering News-Record
• The European Union faces the fact that 97% of its buildings require energy renovation to attain a decarbonised building stock by 2050. Nature
• Construction of the first commercial vertiport at Dubai International Airport is underway and expected to be completed by Q1 2026. / UAE Economic Times
• The construction of a permanent base on Mars, utilizing the planet's resources, will involve robots, with plans to extract water from underground, synthesize oxygen, and generate electricity. Caliber.az
• The combination of lower population growth and rising construction activity should see the flow of housing supply and demand move closer to balance by the end of 2026. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• In an expansion move, Sumitomo plans to build a plant in Texas to make high-purity isopropyl alcohol, a solvent used in semiconductor fabrication. American Chemical Society
• Currently, five major offshore wind farms are under construction in the U.S., and when they come online, they will help states from Virginia to Massachusetts meet their rising energy demand with carbon-free power. Maine Morning Star
• Construction levels are expected to remain sluggish into autumn and start recovering in 2026. / South Korea Pro Global Media Ltd
• Under the 1.5 °C pathway, the carbon footprint associated with construction, renovation, and demolition per square metre of home in 2050 could be reduced by 31-53% compared to the 2015 levels. Nature

Last updated: 20 August 2025