The Global Cement and Concrete Association has revealed the four countries that will pioneer its efforts to decarbonise completely by 2050.
It joins India, Thailand and Colombia in the first wave of a series of Net Zero Accelerator projects announced by the Global Cement and Concrete Association today as part of plans to achieves targets established by its 2050 Net Zero Global Industry Roadmap. The four countries together represent approximately 10 per cent of the world’s cement and concrete production.
Globally, cement and concrete manufacture accounts for around 7 per cent of carbon dioxide emissions. The GCCA roadmap, which was claimed to mark the biggest international commitment by a heavy industry to decarbonise when it was launched last year, sets out a path aligned with the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Actions aimed at reducing concrete-related emissions by 25 per cent between now and 2030 will prevent almost 5 billion tonnes of carbon from entering the atmosphere compared to a business-as-usual scenario, the GCCA predicts. The ultimate objective is to achieve full decarbonisation by 2050.
The Accelerator programme will identify barriers to decarbonisation in target countries and recommend key actions. This includes encouraging government policies that can have an immediate impact, such as better recycling, the use of waste as an alternative to fossil fuels, and other circular economy practices. It will also include identifying projects that can fully eliminate emissions, such as carbon capture utilisation and storage technologies.
Announcing details of the accelerator programme, GCCA chief executive Thomas Guillot said it is the next logical step as the focus moves from the global roadmap to driving local action.
“Concrete will continue to be the world’s most used building material for decades to come, meaning global cooperation between governments and industry is crucial to ensuring net zero targets are met, he said. “Our Net Zero Accelerators will offer collaboration and support to a number of target countries to help them decarbonise and align with the global roadmap.”
Source:E&T
