Cement and Concrete Leaders Call for Net Zero Targets
The use of concrete is responsible for at least 7% of all worldwide CO2 emissions. In an effort to lessen its impact on the environment, the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) released its "Roadmap to Net Zero 2050" last year.
The roadmap made it compulsory for GCCA members to fully decarbonise by 2050, aligning with the goal of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5°C.
To discuss how to create a sustainable future built environment, CEOs from the cement and concrete industries gathered with global officials from the United Nations, the US Department of Energy, international economists, and leaders around the world.
The GCCA’s annual gathering of company CEOs is the first face-to-face gathering of industry leaders since the pandemic began, to discuss the future of concrete and the industry's next steps on its roadmap to net zero.
Concrete Future: Net Zero Delivery - From Commitment to Action
"Concrete Future: Net Zero Delivery - From Commitment to Action” is a two-day conference held in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. It brought together CEOs of top cement and concrete companies, policymakers, and built environment leaders to discuss how to overcome obstacles, find common ground, and work with other societal stakeholders to advance the Roadmap to Net Zero implementation.
Prior to the meeting, a poll of cement and concrete leaders revealed that decarbonization was their top priority.
Thomas Guillot, the Chief Executive of the GCCA
“To achieve net zero and enable the delivery of the sustainable built environment of the future, there needs to be ongoing engagement and deeper collaboration between our industry and government in the years ahead. Targeted government policy will be vital to removing barriers and to expediting our industry’s decarbonisation plans.
Cement and concrete will play a vital role in delivering a net-zero world. In 2021, our industry made a breakthrough in pledging to reach net zero by 2050. This year in March, we launched the first of a series of ‘Net Zero Accelerator’ initiatives to help national cement and concrete industries ensure net-zero targets are met,” Thomas Guillot, the chief executive of the GCCA was quoted as saying.
Other Notable Speakers
Other notable speakers at the net-zero gathering included Selwin Hart, United Nations (UN) special adviser and assistant secretary-general for the Climate Action Team; Brad Crabtree, assistant secretary for fossil energy and carbon management in the US Department of Energy; Diane Hoskins, co-CEO of Gensler, the world’s largest architecture firm; Bjorn Otto, chair of the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI)’s executive committee; and Dr Gernot Wagner, climate economist and author.
Selwin Hart, United Nations (UN) special adviser and assistant secretary-general for the Climate Action Team
Selwin Hart of the United Nations sought to bring together all the concrete players around the globe. Mr Hart was quoted as saying: “We need you to be champions of net-zero credibility by bringing your entire industry and supply chains on board with clear, specific plans on how you will all reach net-zero, and what immediate steps you’ll take to cut emissions significantly during this critical decade.
“Concrete and cement are some of the most carbon-intensive materials in our built environment. So today – on behalf of the Secretary-General – I am calling on you to switch from fossil fuels starting with existing coal, and doing so as soon as possible.
I also ask you to invest in the necessary technologies and upgrades to get to net zero, including investing in the ingredients and mixes that could help emit less carbon.
“Your industry has the power to change the course of human history for the better, and it starts with a smart and speedy exit from coal and shift to renewables.”
Brad Crabtree, assistant secretary for Fossil Energy and Carbon Management in the U.S. Department of Energy
According to Brad Crabtree, assistant secretary for Fossil Energy and Carbon Management in the U.S. Department of Energy, to achieve net-zero targets, an industrial revolution for the cement and concrete sector is required. However, the sector can't handle it alone.
The government must play a crucial role. Mr Crabtree further added that he was excited about the chance to work with the cement and concrete industries to cut emissions and decarbonize a vital economic sector.
Diane Hoskins, co-CEO of Gensler
According to Diane Hoskins, co-CEO of Gensler, the world’s largest architecture company, the world is now facing global climate challenges in the built environment. This includes the raw materials supply chain crisis and the challenge of carbon elimination. Moreover, there is also a lack of green technology investments in developing countries.
“It is critical and urgent that we come together across the full built environment value chain. From the building material we will use, to the efficient design and construction practices, and to the circular economy principles we can adopt – such as reuse and recycle – this full scale collaboration will ensure that, together, we can build the sustainable world of tomorrow,” added Ms Hoskins.
In Closing
Given that the industry continues to pour over 14 billion cubic metres of concrete annually, the need to address concrete's carbon footprint is enormous.
A concerted effort from all industry players and governments around the world is needed to address this issue.
Moreover, the advancement of bioengineering might one day enable us to ‘grow’ concrete and other building materials. It’s hopeful that a revolutionary technology will emerge in the near future in the concrete and building industry.