Carbon Neutral Concrete by 2050

Concrete. It is the world’s most widely-used building material. It is estimated that the cement and concrete sectors account for roughly 5 to 7% of global carbon emissions.

The large carbon footprint of cement and concrete stems partly from the high energy required to heat the kilns used to make cement. Roughly half to two-thirds of carbon emissions come from the actual chemical process of cement making.  

Anticipated population growth suggests that cement and concrete production will grow by up to 38% by 2050, which means that to lower the built environment’s carbon footprint, the production and use of cement and concrete must be made more efficient and climate-friendly. 

The world’s leading cement and concrete companies are working to drive down the CO2 footprint of their operations and products to achieve carbon-neutral concrete by 2050. 

Coupled with the need for more resilient buildings and infrastructure to protect our cities and the natural environment from the impacts of climate change, achieving this goal will require significant technological innovations not only to reduce the release of CO2 in the first place but also through processes that capture and sequester carbon permanently. 

Policymakers, governments, investors, researchers, innovators, and financial institutions also have a role in putting in place the resources, tools and policies needed to deliver the goal of carbon-neutral concrete.

The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) has published its Climate Ambition Statement, which targets delivering carbon-neutral concrete by 2050. 

It has brought together 40 of the world’s leading cement and concrete companies (accounting for around 40% of global clinker production) as signatories to the undertaking.

The GCCA has initiated the development of a Roadmap to set out a clear plan for linking the technologies, strategies, policies and levers required to achieve the vision of carbon-neutral concrete.

The Roadmap will follow a circular economy approach by taking into account the following:

• Emissions reduction in cement and concrete production
• savings delivered by concrete during its lifetime
• Reduced demand through promoting design
• material and construction efficiencies and improved standards
• Reuse of whole concrete structures,
• design for disassembly and reuse of elements
• Accounting for the CO2 savings at the end of life, including concrete recycling and enhanced carbonation

Read more about Carbon Neutral Concrete

• CCGA Climate Ambition Statement  https://bityl.co/8Qa7
• Solutions for Carbon-neutral Concrete in U.S. Pavements, MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub. https://bityl.co/8QaL
• Concrete Action for Climate (CAC), World Economic Forum, https://bityl.co/8QaU
• Cement Producers Are Developing a Plan to Reduce CO2 Emissions, Scientific American, By Chelsea Harvey, E&E News, https://bityl.co/8Qak.

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The Pacific Northwest Building Resilience Coalition is sponsoring a luncheon plenary that will focus on “Designing for Resilience: Mitigating the Cost of Disasters through Strategic Planning and Resilient Design.”

Designing infrastructure for resilience is essential in creating a more climate-friendly and sustainable built environment. By integrating resilient design principles in the construction of homes and communities, buildings can better resist extreme weather events, minimize damage, and ensure the safety of occupants while utilizing materials to attain low-carbon emissions targets.

This discussion will explore key features and strategies that enable structures to withstand and recover from various shocks and stresses and be better prepared for disasters. Learn how the region can work together to build more resilient infrastructure for the future.
Register today! 2023 Annual Summit July 16 – 20, 2023, Boise Idaho
Visit Website www.pnwer.org/2023-summit