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40 Autumn/Winter 2021 A s with all industries, the construction sector is responsible for its fair share of greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 10% of global energy-related CO 2 that is released into the earth’s atmosphere annually. However, emissions are not the only challenges facing the industry as it sets targets to transition across into the new, green economy. SPILLOVER EFFECTS How the construction industry can stem water pollution at source. Residents of Narragansett Bay, the largest estuary in New England in the US, recently witnessed another of the increasingly regular storms that has been afflicting the region over several decades. The rain on its own was not the problem, necessarily, it was what the rain was carrying that concerned locals. Through standard longitudinal monitoring, environmental scientists working in Narragansett have noticed a trend: Pollutants and toxic chemicals have begun to accrue in the bay at a concerning rate. Although the more frequent rainstorms are undoubtedly an important factor, they are far from the whole story. Recently, the estuary’s watershed has witnessed a rapid increase in development, with several building projects taking place, delivering much- needed housing to the area.