James, M; Moyo, T and Moyo, C (2025) Climate change literacy objectives for construction professionals in Zimbabwe. Built Environment Project and Asset Management, 15(1), pp. 85-105. ISSN 2044-124X
Abstract
Purpose: Construction professionals' literacy incapacity exacerbates their vulnerability to climate change hazards on construction projects. Therefore, this study sought to determine climate change literacy objectives for Zimbabwean construction professionals. Climate change-literate construction professionals can significantly strengthen resilience and adaptive capability within the built environment. Design/methodology/approach: The positivist approach employed a cross-sectional questionnaire survey strategy to collect quantitative data from construction professionals (Architects, Civil/Structural engineers, Project managers and Quantity surveyors) working in 280 registered consultancy and construction firms in Zimbabwe. The data were analysed using mean scores, normalisation, Kruskall–Wallis tests and factor analysis. Findings: The respondents' perceptions of the most critical climate change literacy objectives included knowledge of sustainable material utility, designing for resilient structures and understanding how climate change affects workers' physical and mental well-being. Generally, consensus on the nature of climate literacy objectives was evident. The factor analysis determined three components: stakeholder and climate information-related interventions, carbon and environmental footprint-related literacy and climate systems and indigenous knowledge-related literacy. Construction professionals can interpret climate change information through the determined objectives, contribute to reducing carbon and environmental footprint and improve project outcomes. Research limitations/implications: A limitation was that a quantitative method was only employed; a concurrent qualitative inquiry could have mined more diverse views. Professional bodies and tertiary institutions can design climate change programmes based on the determined climate change literacy objectives for construction professionals. Originality/value: The study determined climate change literacy objectives for construction professionals in Zimbabwe to enable them to respond to climate change hazards.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | climate change; construction professional; literacy objective; Zimbabwe; questionnaire survey |
| Index terms: | Zimbabwe, questionnaire, quantitative method, strategy, sustainable material, factor analysis, project outcome, vulnerability, construction professional, architect, quantity surveying, climate change, consultancy, tertiary, built environment, survey, programme, construction project, well-being, construction firm, methodology, project manager, structural engineer |
| Subjects: | organization, sustainable materials, profession, management, professional development, infrastructure and transport systems, data collection methods, environmental hazards, climate science, Geography, research methods, project completion, production management, statistical analysis, data analysis and analytics, mental health and wellbeing, project controls, curriculum development |
| Topics: | Health and Safety, Project Management, Research Practice, Construction Materials, Sustainability, Urban Studies, Time Control, Education, Information Management, Geographical Context, Business Strategy, Organizational Design, Roles and Professions |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here