The GCCA’s 2050 Roadmap for Net Zero sets out a range of measures to accelerate the industry’s decarbonisation efforts. Dr Andrew Minson, GCCA concrete and sustainable construction director, discusses the sector’s progress
John Kerry, the US special presidential envoy for climate, said at COP27 in Egypt in November 2022, that concrete is “essential to our lives, but we have to reduce its emissions”.
And thanks to the work of the Global Cement & Concrete Association (GCCA), its producer members and its affiliates (national and regional cement and concrete associations), the industry is doing exactly that.
The GCCA’s 2050 Roadmap for Net Zero – is the collective commitment of the world’s leading cement and concrete companies to fully contribute to building the sustainable world of tomorrow. It was published in October 2021 and set out a net zero pathway to help limit global warming to 1.5C – the first heavy industry to launch such plans.
To support implementation of the global roadmap and achievement of the targets, the GCCA has a range of initiatives underway, including the instigation of national roadmaps and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). To streamline delivery of net zero and make it more cost-effective, extensive innovation work is also underway by the GCCA.
GCCA Roadmap headlines
The industry had already made some progress with proportionate reductions of CO2 emissions in cement production of 20% over the three previous decades. The GCCA’s Roadmap for Net Zero, however, sets out a significant acceleration of decarbonisation measures, which will achieve the same reduction in only a decade.
It outlines a proportionate reduction in CO2 emissions of 20% for cement and 25% for concrete by 2030, compared with 2020 levels, as a key milestone to achieving full decarbonisation by the mid-21st century.
The Roadmap sets out the levers and milestones needed to achieve net zero across the whole life cycle of concrete. It highlights the actions from the industry already underway and those it will undertake in the months and years ahead, as well as the important contributions from designers, contractors, developers and clients in the use of concrete in the built environment, and the action needed from policymakers.
The GCCA’s 2050 Roadmap for Net Zero outlines the policies required to shape demand for low-carbon products (economic viability), enabling a transition of the sector, while making full use of circular economy opportunities, as well as supporting the development and implementation of innovations and key infrastructure.
The United Nations secretary welcomed the launch of the Roadmap
The Roadmap was well received, with the United Nations secretary general welcoming its launch and calling on all cement companies to join.
One year on from its launch, the industry is making considerable progress in delivering on the Roadmap: its latest verified data shows a 22% CO2 reduction per tonne of cement-based products ‒ a reduction of 2% in the last year – compared with 1990 levels.
Delivering national roadmaps to implement local net zero actions
Following the launch of the Roadmap in October 2021, the GCCA team and its members recognised the need to complement our net zero global commitment with a clear delivery and accountability programme to ensure implementation of local net zero actions. The Roadmap Net Zero Accelerator initiative was launched at UNFCCC MENA Climate Week in March 2022.
The initiative has three focus areas:
- Roadmap.
- Policy Action Agendas.
- Lighthouse Projects.
The Net Zero Accelerators support and deliver national roadmaps in line with the global Roadmap, including the target of net zero by 2050, as well as 2030 milestones and evaluation over the whole value chain. It sets out active local decarbonisation levers, the policy changes needed locally to achieve decarbonisation through collaboration with governments and how to deliver lighthouse projects. There is a particular focus on key countries in the Global South.
Phase One countries announced in March 2022 were Colombia, Egypt, India and Thailand, and the last of these launched their national roadmap at COP27, in November 2022. A further tranche of Phase Two countries will be announced in 2023 and will include Brazil and Morocco, who have already started.
What are Environmental Product Declarations?
EPDs are fundamental to emerging low-carbon procurement initiatives and are a key policy ask for the 2050 Roadmap.
The GCCA has a software EPD Tool for clinker, cement and concrete (RMX and precast). This tool:
- Speeds up the production of an EPD and is externally recognised by EPD International as a pre-verified tool.
- Is widely used by members in Europe and North America and is increasingly being used in other markets as demand for EPDs emerges.
- Ensures fair and favourable application of the EPD standards (for example, re-carbonation).
- Enables industry to have both consistent and cost-effective EPDs.
- The GCCA is encouraging the use of this tool by all members and non-members, as well as academics, so that comparisons between EPDs can be consistent.
Global innovation platforms to address CO2 in cement and concrete
The GCCA has two innovation platforms that are addressing the CO2 footprint of cement and concrete. The Innovandi Global Cement and Concrete Research Network (GCCRN) undertakes pre-competitive research. The Innovandi GCCRN is made up of a consortium of 75 partners: 33 of which are industrial partners and 42 academic partner institutions from around the globe.
The Innovandi Open Challenge connects start-ups with industry. The purpose behind this is to identify new technologies and establish agreements between start-ups and consortia of companies.
The challenge is open to anyone to submit projects and all GCCA members. The application process for our 2nd Innovandi Open Challenge launched in April (and closes on 15 May), with a focus on the development of new materials and ingredients for low-carbon concrete. Start-ups can apply here.
Dr Andrew Minson
Concrete and sustainable construction director
Global Cement & Concrete Association
Tel: +44 (0)20 3580 4268
