Fiji National University

College of Humanities and Education

School of Communication, Language & Literature
___________________________________________________________________________
LNG501: English for Academic Studies
SEMESTER 1 2020
Final Assessment (50%)

Essay Question: Much of the world today is focused on development and construction
which comes at the cost of environment destruction.

Essay Plan

 Introduction: Environment is a place where different things are such as a swampy or hot

environment. It includes physical, chemical, and other natural forces. They constantly interact
with it and adapt themselves to conditions in their environment. In the environment, there are
different interactions between animals, plants, soil, water, and other living and non-living
things. 

 Background: A recent study by Bimhow shows that the construction sector is accountable for
23% air pollution, 40% of drinking water pollution, 50% climate change, and 50% landfill
waste. Another research by US Green Building Council (USGBG) shows that the
construction sector is responsible for about 40% of the world’s energy use. The council
estimated that the emissions from buildings will increase by 1.8% by the year 2030.

Thesis statement: The construction sector is expanding day by day as towns and cities are
growing. This sector uses over 400million tins of construction material every year, and many
of these materials have a bad or negative impact on the environment. The impact of
construction on the environment is mostly negative; firstly, increases particulate pollution,
secondly, Excess energy, and water is used and lastly, Construction waste fills up the
landfills.

Main Point 1: Increases particulate pollution.

T: Construction items such as aluminum, concrete, and steel are accountable for the large
amounts of greenhouse gas emissions. These particles can be carried over long distances
through the wind. 
E: Increases particulate pollution can cause effects like contaminating lakes and streams by
acidic etcetera. These particles can damage stone and other important objects such as statues
and monuments.
E: According to Initiafy (2017) Construction sector is increasing but also it bounds to hurt the
environment. Research by Construction Products says that the products used during a
particular construction job can also have an impact on the surrounding environment, due to
the “extraction of raw materials”. Through some research contacted it shows that through
construction activity environment are heavily polluted. The research also says that the
construction sector’s current practices at reducing pollutants are massively ineffective and

LNG501 English for Academic Studies Semester 1 2020 Page 1

may generate greenhouse gas pollution. In the U.K with the publication of the Green Guide,
the work of Oxford Brookes and the UK construction industry, constructed firms that can use
materials to help the environment. 
X: Example, in Vanua Levu Fiji football academy, is under construction. In this making,
process trucks are used for transport in gravel road which causes particulate pollution.
Villagers in those areas have raised issues that dust from the road is affecting their lifestyle.
C: To limit pollution, construction projects should try to minimize the impact of construction
on the environment by reducing haul distances, reducing vehicle idling, using green,
alternative fuels, and using hybrid equipment. By decreasing fossil fuel use, the gas emissions
also can be decreased thus leading to better air quality 

 Main Point 2: Excess energy and water is used.

T: The construction buildings and homes use approx. 41% of the total energy use of the
world. Scarcity of water has been noticed in many parts of the world
 E: Conventional construction methods do not recognize this and continue to use and waste
this valuable natural resource. Buildings are estimated to use 13.6% potable water, water
which could have been used as drinking water for animals and humans.                                 
E: Rogers (2018) stated conserving energy is not just about saving on your electricity costs.
The environmental effect of energy overuse is an increase in carbon footprint. Coal and
natural gas supplied more than two-thirds of the energy in the U.S. in 2011. Each energy
form contributes to the total greenhouse gas emissions. Also, methane emissions from natural
gas increased during the same period by 17 percent. Part of this increase is due to the careless
use of electricity. 
X: Wastewater discharge from painting and release of various oils and curing compounds.
Discharge of oils and fuels as well as other pollutants that are used for equipment and vehicle
operation as well as maintenance. Hundreds of millions of tons of construction waste are
generated worldwide
C: Therefore, the overuse will contribute to a scarcity in this energy supply and thus an
increase in overall electricity costs. Careless use of electricity can increase the risk of climate
change. 

Main Point 3: Construction waste fills up the landfills

T: The waste management methods in construction have to improve a lot. The renovation and
destruction of the buildings generate great quantities of waste.
 E: Metals, concrete, glass, wood, bricks, asphalt, etc. are wasted and then disposed of in
incinerators and landfills. This results in atmospheric and land pollution, but the
transportation used in the process also hurts the construction on the environment.                   
E: According to Pratibha (2017) Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has illustrated that
there is always a price to pay in order of short-term financial gain and no development in Fiji
takes place unless it is environmentally sustainable. Whereas long-term benefits of
responsible development protect the environment leaving behind short-term economic
considerations. He further says that “When it comes to the areas that we do have control over,
we are not prepared to compromise. And I repeat: no development on land or at sea in Fiji
takes place if there is any risk to the environment. It is a central tenet of our Green Growth
Framework and national development plans. And we are very proud to have drawn this
responsible line in the sand.”
X: Municipal waste, commonly known as trash or garbage, is a combination of all of a town’s
solid and semisolid waste. It includes mainly household or domestic waste, but it can also
contain commercial and industrial waste except for industrial hazardous waste (waste from
industrial practices that causes a threat to human or environmental health). Industrial

LNG501 English for Academic Studies Semester 1 2020 Page 2

hazardous waste is excluded from municipal waste because it is typically dealt with
separately based on environmental regulations. 
C: By reusing, salvaging, and recycling the existing materials, the impact of construction on
the environment can be limited. The hardware, fixtures, and appliances can be used again or
sent for recycling, or can be donated to people who need them. Concrete and brick can be
reused and recycled and used as driveway bedding fill. Wood and metals can be recycled for
various uses.

 Conclusion: 
To conclude, the environment is a place where different things are, it can be living or non-
living things. It includes physical, chemical, and other natural forces. Development is taking
place and the construction sector is expanding every day. The material used by this sector
hurts the environment. 
The impact of construction on the environment is mostly negative; firstly, increases
particulate pollution, secondly, Excess energy, and water is used and lastly, Construction
waste fills up the landfills. 
It is therefore recommended, construction projects should try to minimize the impact of
construction on the environment, and the overuse will contribute to a scarcity in this energy
supply and thus an increase in overall electricity costs. Careless use of electricity can increase
the risk of climate change. And By reusing, salvaging and recycling the existing materials,
the impact of construction on the environment can be limited
No development on land or at sea in Fiji takes place if there is any risk to the environment.

LNG501 English for Academic Studies Semester 1 2020 Page 3

 DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION COMES AT THE COST OF
ENVIRONMENT DESTRUCTION
An environment is a place where different things are such as a swampy or hot environment. It
can be living or non-living things. It includes physical, chemical, and other natural forces.
Living things live in their environment. They constantly interact with it and adapt themselves
to conditions in their environment. In the environment, there are different interactions
between animals, plants, soil, water, and other living and non-living things. Since everything
is part of the environment of something else, the word environment is used to talk about
many things. A recent study by Bimhow shows that the construction sector is accountable for
23% air pollution, 40% of drinking water pollution, 50% climate change, and 50% landfill
waste. Another research by US Green Building Council (USGBG) shows that the
construction sector is responsible for about 40% of the world’s energy use. The council
estimated that the emissions from buildings will increase by 1.8% by the year 2030. The
construction sector is expanding day by day as towns and cities are growing. This sector uses
over 400million tins of construction material every year, and many of these materials have a
bad or negative impact on the environment. The extraction, use of waste material, chemicals
used, and excessive use of energy create problems. The impact of construction on the
environment is mostly negative; firstly, increases particulate pollution, secondly, Excess
energy, and water is used and lastly, Construction waste fills up the landfills.

Construction items such as aluminium, concrete, and steel are accountable for the large
amounts of greenhouse gas emissions. GHG emissions contribute to global warming, thus
leading to climate change. Urban housing construction increases the number of particulates in
the air, which causes many respiratory problems. These particles can be carried over long
distances through the wind. Increases particulate pollution can cause effects like
contaminating lakes and streams by acidic, the nutrient balance in coastal waters and large
river basins can be changeable, depleting the nutrients in the soil, affecting the diversity of
ecosystems, contributing to acid rain effects and damaging forests and farm crops. These
particles can damage stone and other important objects such as statues and monuments.
According to Initiafy (2017), the Construction sector is increasing but also it bounds to hurt
the environment. Research by Construction Products says that the products used during a
particular construction job can also have an impact on the surrounding environment, due to
the “extraction of raw materials”. Through some research contacted it shows that through

LNG501 English for Academic Studies Semester 1 2020 Page 4

construction activity environment are heavily polluted. The research also says that the
construction sector’s current practices at reducing pollutants are massively ineffective and
may generate greenhouse gas pollution. In the U.K with the publication of the Green Guide,
the work of Oxford Brookes and the UK construction industry, constructed firms that can use
materials to help the environment. For example, in Vanua Levu, Fiji football association
academy is under construction. In this making, process trucks are used for transport in gravel
road which causes particulate pollution. Villagers in those areas have raised issues that dust
from the road is affecting their lifestyle. To limit pollution, construction projects should try to
minimize the impact of construction on the environment by reducing haul distances, reducing
vehicle idling, using green, alternative fuels, and using hybrid equipment. By decreasing
fossil fuel use, gas emissions also can be decreased thus leading to better air quality.

Moving on, the excess energy and water are used which affects the environment. The
construction buildings and homes use approx. 41% of the total energy use of the world. The
scarcity of water has been noticed in many parts of the world. Conventional construction
methods do not recognize this and continue to use and waste this valuable natural resource.
Buildings are estimated to use 13.6% potable water, water which could have been used as
drinking water for animals and humans. Rogers (2018) stated conserving energy is not just
about saving on your electricity costs. The environmental effect of energy overuse is an
increase in carbon footprint. Coal and natural gas supplied more than two-thirds of the energy
in the U.S. in 2011. Each energy form contributes to the total greenhouse gas emissions.
Also, methane emissions from natural gas increased during the same period by 17 percent.
Part of this increase is due to the careless use of electricity. Wastewater discharge from
painting and release of various oils and curing compounds. Discharge of oils and fuels as well
as other pollutants that are used for equipment and vehicle operation as well as maintenance.
Hundreds of millions of tons of construction waste are generated worldwide. Therefore, the
overuse will contribute to a scarcity in this energy supply and thus an increase in overall
electricity costs. Careless use of electricity can increase the risk of climate change.

Lastly, construction waste fills up landfills that harm the environment. The waste
management methods in construction have to improve a lot. The renovation and destruction
of the buildings generate great quantities of waste. Metals, concrete, glass, wood, bricks,
asphalt, etc. are wasted and then disposed of in incinerators and landfills. This results in
atmospheric and land pollution, but the transportation used in the process also hurts the
LNG501 English for Academic Studies Semester 1 2020 Page 5
construction on the environment. According to Pratibha (2017), Prime Minister Voreqe
Bainimarama has illustrated that there is always a price to pay in order of short-term financial
gain and no development in Fiji takes place unless it is environmentally sustainable. Whereas
long-term benefits of responsible development protect the environment leaving behind short-
term economic considerations. He further says that “When it comes to the areas that we do
have control over, we are not prepared to compromise. And I repeat: no development on land
or at sea in Fiji takes place if there is any risk to the environment. It is a central tenet of our
Green Growth Framework and national development plans. And we are very proud to have
drawn this responsible line in the sand.” Municipal waste, commonly known as trash or
garbage, is a combination of all of a town’s solid and semisolid waste. It includes mainly
household or domestic waste, but it can also contain commercial and industrial waste except
for industrial hazardous waste (waste from industrial practices that causes a threat to human
or environmental health). Industrial hazardous waste is excluded from municipal waste
because it is typically dealt with separately based on environmental regulations. By reusing,
salvaging, and recycling the existing materials, the impact of construction on the environment
can be limited. The hardware, fixtures, and appliances can be used again or sent for recycling,
or can be donated to people who need them. Concrete and brick can be reused and recycled
and used as driveway bedding fill. Wood and metals can be recycled for various uses.

To conclude, the environment is a place where different things are, it can be living or non-
living things. It includes physical, chemical, and other natural forces. Development is taking
place and the construction sector is expanding every day. The material used by this sector
hurts the environment. The impact of construction on the environment is mostly negative;
firstly, increases particulate pollution, secondly, Excess energy, and water is used and lastly,
Construction waste fills up the landfills. It is therefore recommended, construction projects
should try to minimize the impact of construction on the environment, and the overuse will
contribute to a scarcity in this energy supply and thus an increase in overall electricity costs.
Careless use of electricity can increase the risk of climate change. And By reusing, salvaging,
and recycling the existing materials, the impact of construction on the environment can be
limited. No development on land or at sea in Fiji takes place if there is any risk to the
environment.

LNG501 English for Academic Studies Semester 1 2020 Page 6

 REFERENCES
Green Diary. (n.d). what’s the impact of construction on environment? Retrieved from
https://greendiary.com/whats-the-impact-of-construction-on-environment.html

Initiafy F. (2017). How does Construction Impact the Environment? Retrieved from
https://gocontractor.com/blog/how-does-construction-impact-the-environment/

Pratibha J. (2017). Development Not At The Expense Of Environment. Retrieved from

https://fijisun.com.fj/2017/06/08/development-not-at-the-expense-of-environment/

Rogers C. (2018). What Are the Effects of Overusing Energy? Retrieved from
https://homeguides.sfgate.com/effects-overusing-energy-78753.html

LNG501 English for Academic Studies Semester 1 2020 Page 7