Eight ways project and portfolio management can tackle climate change

Virtually every industry has had a hand in pushing us to the environmental brink. Fortunately, a sizeable portion of these industries are addressing global pollution and resource depletion, along with the climate change that is occurring as a result.

The construction industry is no exception. It undoubtedly participates in the unsavoury practices related to the environment, but it has upped its game in terms of corrective action. However, the construction sector should probably be addressing the situation more aggressively than others. The reason? Because it is one of the biggest offenders.

The fact is, the buildings and construction sector is by far the largest generator of greenhouse gases, accounting for a staggering 37% of global emissions. This includes emissions directly produced by the construction industry, such as those from machinery used on construction sites, along with emissions during the operational phase of a building’s lifespan.

What’s more, among all industries, the built environment is responsible for a third of global resource use and 40% of worldwide energy consumption. Add in the massive material waste that ends up in landfills, the burning of fossil fuels, and the destruction of vegetation and wildlife habitats, and you’ve got an industry that needs to confront these harmful practices immediately and devise actionable solutions.

But where to start? Project and portfolio management (PPM) software might seem like an obscure first port of call. Nevertheless, it can become a critical tool for reducing your company’s greenhouse gas emissions and lowering your climate footprint. So, while the construction industry has been a notable contributor to pollution and climate change, PPM can help the same industry play an integral role in being part of the solution.

Here are eight ways PPM software can help your organisation tackle climate change.

Sustainability and profit aren’t independent goals: one can certainly drive the other. PPM software allows companies to combine their sustainability strategy and business development targets to align their strategic objectives. 

The best PPM software on the market will identify which of your plans and projects support sustainable construction. Some will enable system administrators to set climate change priorities and other strategic drivers and map how each project measures against them.

In addition to prioritising high-impact environmental projects, PPM software can help allocate resources to sustainable construction approaches. Some will assist construction companies by ensuring the optimal resources are available for each project, highlighting areas where staff and contractors might be underutilised. 

PPM software is ideally placed to drive construction initiatives that reduce carbon emissions. Companies can use it to pioneer sustainability projects such as adopting energy-saving technologies, deploying sustainable practices, and reducing the climate footprint of transport and logistics operations. 

Alongside lowering your existing climate footprint, PPM software can support green initiatives – such as implementing renewable energy sources. Switching to solar, wind or hydroelectric power can reduce greenhouse gas emissions considerably. For example, producing 100kWh of energy through solar panels saves more than 635kg of carbon dioxide compared with producing the same volume of fossil fuel electricity. 

Tackling a global challenge like climate change is no small feat. Even at a company level, the cooperation of multiple stakeholders to drive eco-friendly initiatives is an absolute necessity. PPM software can help companies understand the collective effort required to combat climate change and unite key players in the sustainability journey. Companies, however, must be sure to look for technology with a dedicated stakeholder management model.

To be fully accountable to stakeholders, it’s critical to set, track and measure sustainable construction metrics or KPIs. Continuous monitoring will help measure which projects meet environmental targets and provide proof of success to colleagues, customers, and investors. A PPM system with robust tracking and capabilities will also allow users to adjust their sustainability strategy in real-time to drive ongoing improvement. 

Many construction companies have PPM software, but they don’t all use it to tackle climate change. Often, that’s simply because staff haven’t been trained in using PPM technology to full effect. Investing in educational awareness and training for all users will help prioritise sustainability efforts in construction and create a culture in which eco-friendly projects are at the forefront of people’s minds.  

I’ve already mentioned the importance of setting and tracking sustainability KPIs. But the best PPM software for construction companies can also carry out climate impact evaluations. For example, some programmes have built-in impact assessments that system administrators can configure. Adding environmental impact assessments will allow users to generate an RAG rating for every construction project to quantify how eco-friendly a company has become. 

PPM software can play a crucial role in making construction more sustainable, but it needs to be implemented correctly – as part of a greener mindset. A good roll-out strategy must be accompanied by companywide training, transparent reporting, and strong stakeholder engagement to drive sustainable building programmes. 

With the Paris Agreement stating that greenhouse gas emissions must peak before 2025 to limit global warming to 1.5°C, construction companies must act quickly to reduce the sector’s climate footprint. Investing in PPM software is a logical – and effective – next step. 

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