Building a circular construction economy in New York State: A multi-level perspective study of prospects for circular cities and statewide socio-technological transition

Abstract

Globally, construction and demolition of the built environment contribute significantly to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and generate vast amounts of waste. In New York State, buildings and waste management rank as the first and fourth largest GHG emitters, collectively responsible for 43% of annual emissions. To address this, a network of academic labs and community leaders developed a vision for deconstruction and building material reuse, aiming to foster a circular construction economy. The network and the vision it promotes represent growing niches of innovation against a backdrop of COVID-19 and pandemic recovery, uneven urban development pressures, and climate and political change. Using the multi-level perspective (MLP) framework, this article explores how micro-level innovations in New York State can be scaled and institutionalized, and identifies actionable pathways and policy recommendations for advancing a circular construction economy. The result is a study of the roles of state and local governments, private industry, nonprofits, and citizens in creating a new socio-technological configuration. The authors argue that New York’s circular construction initiatives, viewed through the MLP lens, are transitioning from experimentation to early stabilization, with the potential for wider diffusion. The article further examines the implications of scale and multi-level governance in advancing these innovations.