On the 6th of July, the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) and World Economic Forum launched ‘Concrete Action for Climate’ (CAC), a collaborative platform that will promote a carbon neutral concrete industry by 2050. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), concrete and cement were responsible for 8% of all GHG emissions in 2018. This initiative of the GCCA and its company partners hopes to accelerate the transition to net-zero emissions.
The CAC initiative, which represents around 40% of the industry, expects to bring together the public sector, environmental businesses and the civil society in order to coordinate global action and incentivize the search for alternative sustainable materials. Working in a public-private partnership, the CAC could provide changes in public policy and a shift in financing that favors a reduction of carbon footprint.
Dr. Dominik von Achten, Chairman of CAC and Chairman of the Managing Board of HeidelbergCement, said: “Concrete is vital to the development of the modern world, being used to develop key infrastructure like safe homes, bridges, hospitals as well as supporting the transition to clean energy. Strong action to improve the sustainability of cement and concrete is already underway, but the industry needs to engage and collaborate with others to help drive collective action towards achieving carbon neutral concrete for the world. Today’s launch of the ‘Concrete Action for Climate’ platform is a great example of such collective action. It’s encouraging and exciting to see influential, global organisations from across the world come together to support the cement and concrete industry on its path to carbon neutrality.”
GCCA members are working alongside the CAC initiative to provide a comprehensive roadmap that will pave the way for a net-zero cement industry with set milestones and a commitment to sustainable actions. The CAC will be aiding companies to implement the roadmap by providing toolkits and best practices to companies worldwide, and invites companies to join the roadmap which will be implemented this fall.