Forty of the world’s leading cement and concrete manufacturers target ‘Net Zero’ by 2050
CRH is playing a leadership role in plans by the cement and concrete industry to reduce emissions and provide the world with net-zero concrete by 2050. The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) has published a detailed Roadmap which shows how its members will fully decarbonise by 2050, a target aligned with the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5°C.
The ambitious Roadmap is built around a seven-point plan that relies on achievable actions to reduce the amount of CO2 intensive clinker in cement, significantly reduce fossil fuel use in manufacturing, and accelerate innovation in products, process efficiency and breakthrough technologies including carbon capture. It includes specific actions between now and 2030 to prevent almost 5 billion tonnes of carbon from entering the atmosphere.
CRH is a founding member of the GCCA and played a key role in the development of the Roadmap. According to CRH Chief Executive, Albert Manifold: “The Roadmap represents a clear commitment to positive change across our industry and will allow us to sustainably transition to net zero while continuing to supply society with the concrete it needs to grow and prosper.”
Concrete is the most used human-made material on the planet and an essential element of construction with no other material equalling its resilience, strength and wide availability. An estimated 14 billion cubic metres of concrete is manufactured annually for use in infrastructure from roads to bridges, tunnels to homes, and hydropower installations to flood defences. The Roadmap’s 2030 targets represent a significant acceleration in the pace of industry decarbonisation.
Full details of the GCCA Global Net Zero Roadmap can be found on the GCCA website.