Concrete Zero - Cement Association of Canada

Canada’s cement and concrete industry action plan to net-zero

Canada will build its future with concrete

Concrete is the most widely used building material in the world. It has supported human progress since ancient times and will be essential to building our shared future. Homes and communities need concrete. It’s necessary for roads, bridges and buildings, manufacturing, renewable energy generation, resource industries, food production, and many other sectors and activities that sustain Canada’s quality of life. It is also a local material that creates great-paying jobs in nearly every municipality in the country.

Twice as much concrete is used than all other building materials combined. Concrete is durable and helps the built environment withstand the worst effects of climate change. Improving how it is made and used will have a profound impact on climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Canada’s Cement and Concrete Industry Action Plan to Net-Zero

Big industries can make a big impact

Concrete is one of the most highly consumed commodities globally, second only to water. The active ingredient of concrete is cement, the binding agent that holds it together. The cement sector is the world’s third-largest industrial energy consumer and the second-largest industrial CO₂ emitter.

It represents about 7% of CO₂ emissions globally. Based on Canada’s National Inventory Report, cement manufacturing accounted for 9.7 Mt CO₂ in 2020, the baseline year for this report. This represents about 1.4% of Canada’s emissions. Cutting our emissions will have a big impact.

Emissions Reductions in Net‑Zero 2050

28%

CCUS

24%

Concrete
Improvements

19%

Cement
Improvements

14%

Construction
Efficiencies

10%

Clinker
Improvements

Carbon
Upstake

There is no silver bullet

There is no silver bullet, no one magic solution that will get us to zero. Rather, it will take many actions. In detailing our path forward, we have chosen a cautious approach; our Action Plan uses the carbon-reduction levers available today.

While our path to 2030 is clear, we need more research and development in clinker chemistries, carbon utilization technologies, materials innovation, and clean fuel sources like hydrogen to get us to net-zero by 2050.

We’re proud to demonstrate the Canadian cement and concrete industry’s sustainable leadership through our Concrete Zero Action Plan. We are committed to sustainability, innovation, and transparency on the path to net-zero cement and concrete by 2050. As the most used building material on the planet, a net-zero world will, literally and figuratively, rest on concrete.

David Redfern Chair of the Board, Cement Association of Canada

As Canadians, as people with families, and as professionals proudly working in cement and concrete, we are determined to rise to the challenge that this moment represents. We believe that our industry — which is filled with innovative, resourceful, and hard-working individuals — can and will play a central role in helping Canada achieve its net-zero goals.

Adam Auer President and CEO, Cement Association of Canada

Together we can deliver #ConcreteZero

We are up for this challenge. Our Action Plan shows that emissions reductions (from our 2020 baseline) of 40% by 2030, 59% by 2040, and net-zero by 2050 are possible using today’s technologies. As new technologies are developed and proven, these reductions could accelerate. We will be transparent and accountable—and will release progress reports at least every 5 years. Our Action Plan is about finding true net-zero, so we do not account for offset purchases to get us to zero. Our report includes the aggregated scope 1, scope 2, and, where possible, scope 3 emissions towards the goal of achieving net-zero concrete by 2050.

Where economic and regulatory conditions stand in the way of our progress towards our emissions reduction goals, we will actively work to improve those conditions rather than use them as an excuse to delay action.

And finally, we will be a partner, working with governments across the country, members of the procurement, architecture, engineering and design community, and the construction sector to realize this goal.