A study published in the journal One Earth, conducted by researchers from China, the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Australia, analyzed the volume of stalled construction projects in recent years and estimated the waste associated with these developments. The findings quantify a problem of considerable scale.

What are DALYs?

Materials consumed, benefits unrealized

According to the authors, 485 million tons of materials—such as cement and steel, as well as energy—were consumed in unfinished construction projects, resulting in intensive resource use without a proportional social return.

This process directly contributes to a 9.6% increase in the carbon intensity of the construction sector, which is already recognized as one of the largest global sources of greenhouse gas emissions. 

Health at risk

But the effects are not limited to climate: the study indicates that the waste of materials and energy is associated with deteriorating air quality, a well-established risk factor for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The research estimates 2.6 million DALYs (Disability-Adjusted Life Years) linked to pollution generated by stalled construction projects.

The presence of abandoned construction sites in urban areas tends to exacerbate already fragile conditions, contributing to degradation of the built environment, safety concerns, and socioeconomic stress among affected populations. The situation represents approximately US$347 billion (R$ 1.7 trillion) in economic losses. 

How researchers measured the impact

To produce these estimates, the researchers combined data on real estate activity, material consumption and sectoral emissions, considering both the construction lifecycle and the indirect impacts resulting from the interruption of construction work. 

This approach made it possible to assess not only the physical waste, but also its environmental and social consequences over time.

The study argues that China’s real estate crisis reveals a broader structural issue: urban development models disconnected from sustainable planning and economic stability tend to generate significant environmental and social consequences.

Unfinished buildings are no longer merely symbols of economic slowdown—they function as sources of pollution, inefficiency, and risks to public health, highlighting the need to rethink development models in the sector.

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