  Sustainability is focussed on avoiding the long-term depletion of natural
resources. Under the terms of a government plan to tackle climate change, a
driver for improved sustainability is the cut of greenhouse gas emissions in
the UK to almost zero by 2050. With this type of change, new themes are
continuously being developed which drive complex projects, such as the
development of new power generation methods, which encompass challenging lead
times and demanding requirements. Consideration of the implementation of
strategies and key concepts, which may engender sustainability within complex
projects therefore presents an opportunity for further critical debate, review,
and application through a project management lens. Sustainability incorporation
in project management has been documented in academic literature, with this
emerging field providing new challenges. For example, project management
education can provide a holistic base for the inculcation of sustainability
factors to a range of industries, including complex projects. Likewise,
practitioner interest and approaches to sustainability in project management
are being driven by the recently Chartered Association for Project Management
(APM). Whilst this body makes a significant contribution to the UK economy
across many sectors, it also addresses ongoing sustainability challenges.
Therefore, by drawing on research and practitioner developments, the authors
argue that by connecting with the next generation through practice simulation
approaches, and embedding sustainability issues within project management tools
and methods, improved focus on sustainability in complex project management may
be achieved.
