The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) has said the industry is making “good progress and is on track to play is part in the sustainable world of tomorrow” one year on from the launch of its 2050 Net Zero Roadmap.
Cement industry data from 2020 shows a 22% reduction in CO2 per tonne of cementitious material since 1990 – an improvement from the previous year, which showed a 19.2% reduction compared to 1990.
The industry’s energy efficiency compared to 1990 has increased from 18.5% to 19% year on year. This has also seen a 17% reduction in fossil fuel use in comparison to the 1990 baseline.
Across GCCA’s members, there have been 35 carbon capture, utilisation, and storage projects announced and underway. There are over 100 more in the pipeline.
This year has also seen the launch of GCCA’s Net Zero Roadmap Accelerator initiatives, with a focus on the global south where the building and infrastructure needs have been called the most pressing. This has seen the establishment of national roadmaps and dialogues with governments in Egypt, India, Thailand, and Colombia which will help their national cement and concrete industries decarbonise in line with the 2050 Roadmap.
The association’s Innovandi programme has launched Open Challenge, a global programme to bring together tech start-ups and GCCA member companies to drive innovations that will help solve the climate challenge. Six consortia have been formed and the results of the partnerships will be announced this month.
“Lasting success depends on a set of specific policy actions at local, national, and international levels, which help to make low-carbon cement manufacturing investable; stimulate demand for low-carbon concrete products; and create the infrastructure needed for a circular and net zero manufacturing environment.
“We invite policymakers and stakeholders, from across the built environment, to work with us to together build the sustainable world of tomorrow.”
Source: newcivilengineer
