Abstract
This Ph.D thesis falls under the field of Management of Information Systems and Environmental Sustainability and answers pressing needs raised by local and global environmental concerns and the overarching global commitment of countries to the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals. In particular the thesis addresses the scope of SDG 11 on Sustainable cities and communities which is even more pressing and urgent in the Mediterranean environments. Lebanon is a small, mostly mountainous country situated on the eastern Mediterranean coast, which is suffering from numerous problems characterizing countries around the Mediterranean. While attempting to evaluate the viability of the concept of Smart Cities for Lebanon as a way towards sustainable cities, the research has contributed to highlighting that Lebanon is not ready to implement the Smart city concept essentially due to limited available infrastructure, and the absence of vision from the Government leading to the realization of Smart Cities moreover the limited/absence of resources dedicated for such a shift. The thesis has explored the possibility to rely on Green Buildings as a viable pathway towards sustainable construction in Lebanon and has consequently confirmed that International Green Rating Systems not only exist in Lebanon but are implemented and recommended; Lebanon has developed a National GRS that is adapted to existing commercial buildings but is not available for residential nor new buildings. The GIS analysis has confirmed that existing green buildings are still timid and scattered across the Lebanese territory. This timid adoption of GRS in Lebanon is probably due to lack of awareness of GRS as alternatives to conventional construction projects. Finally, the research enables understanding on what aspects can inferential stakeholders influence the adoption of sustainable construction in Lebanon. The analysis of the construction process has confirmed the pivotal importance of the preconstruction phase in gearing construction towards sustainable constructions. The Social Network Analysis constructed showed the direct and indirect networks existing in a conventional and green construction, confirming that the go and forth between administrative processes leading to Green construction is complex. As recommendations, the research states that in order to enact change, there is a need to scale the adoption of GRS not only to primary stakeholders but to secondary as well. Change enacted through voluntary or involuntary means. Starting with voluntary, creating a need for Green buildings in Lebanon should pass various hierarchical avenues in order for it to be realized. Starting with financial and taxation incentives tracking the upper echelon, by backing entrepreneurial ventures driving towards wider adoption by levying the financial risk. Second, buyers should be made aware of the potential advantages of owning a green building, as the premium initial cost of purchase will be offset by the high efficiency and effectiveness of resources utilized. Involuntary can be through enacting SC through government legislation. Due to the high frequency of directive nodes and its multifaceted portfolio of receivers, the OEA plays an essential role as an inferential stakeholder in gearing towards sustainable construction through awareness raising programs and educational support to universities. The OEA can play a fundamental role in advocating for new governmental regulations and imposing higher environmental standards for syndicate members, on another note the OEA can incentivize its affiliates to shift from conventional construction to sustainable one via increased quota, reduced permit costs as an example. The role of the OEA is indispensable, and the findings stress on endorsing a new role as a sustainability change agent.