Cement and Concrete Breakthrough Initiative Launched at COP28
Press releaseDecember 6, 2023
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ST CONSTANT, QC (August 26, 2022) — Canada’s cement industry is leading the way in the fight to tackle climate change by joining the Net-Zero Challenge. The Net-Zero Challenge is a voluntary initiative led by the Government of Canada that encourages businesses to develop and implement credible and effective plans to transition their facilities and operations to net-zero emissions by 2050.
Adam Auer, President and CEO of the Cement Association of Canada joined the Hon. Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, to announce the first participants of the Net-Zero Challenge, including cement as the first industry-wide participant.
Concrete is the most used building material on the planet, second only to water. It is found in virtually every class of infrastructure – from bridges to buildings, watermains to hydro-dams, hospitals to schools, sidewalks to subways. Concrete’s strength, durability and resilience will play a critical role in ensuring our infrastructure stands up to extreme weather– heat, flooding, wildfires and wind. Set to be released later this fall, the cement and concrete industry action plan to produce net-zero concrete by 2050 will include significant milestones, including cutting carbon emissions up to 40% by 2030.
QUOTES
“Canada’s cement industry welcomes the opportunity to reiterate its commitment to tackling climate change by joining the Net-Zero Challenge as the first industry-wide participant. Concrete is the most used building material on the planet, second only to water. It is an essential element of construction, with no other material equaling its resilience, strength, and durability. The continued support of the Government of Canada of the cement and concrete industry is invaluable. We look forward to continue working together as we chart a path to net-zero for the world’s most important building material.”
Marie Glenn, Chair of the Board, Cement Association of Canada
“Climate change is our industry’s most significant challenge. It is also our greatest opportunity. By charting a credible, transparent path to net-zero emissions, our industry continues its history of leadership in building the sustainable world of tomorrow. We are proud to be a founding participant in the Net-Zero Challenge as just one example of our pursuit of proactive partnerships with governments, the construction sector and civil society groups to support the ambitious and science based imperative of reducing carbon emissions to net-zero by 2050.”
Adam Auer, President and CEO, Cement Association of Canada
KEY FACTS
- Carbon emissions from the production of cement is approximately 7% globally and 1.5% of Canada’s annual GHG emissions.
- Canada’s cement and concrete industry has committed to reduce over 15 megatonnes of GHGs cumulatively by 2030, and net-zero by 2050 (without the use of offsets).
- Canada’s cement and concrete industry action plan to net-zero concrete will show how net-zero concrete is achievable with the right combination of technologies, incentives and regulatory policy.
- Decarbonization pathways for the cement industry include low carbon fuels, performance-based codes, standards and procurement policies, material efficiency, and carbon capture, utilization and storage.
- Participation in the Net Zero Challenge requires public transparency and disclosure, including a comprehensive net-zero plan, two interim emissions reduction targets consistent with achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 or earlier, and annual progress updates.
ABOUT CAC
The Cement Association of Canada is the voice of Canada’s cement industry, representing five vertically integrated cement companies that provide a reliable local supply of cement to help build Canadian communities and critical infrastructure. The cement and concrete industry contributes approximately 158,000 direct and indirect jobs across the country, and $76 billion dollars in direct, indirect, and induced economic impact into the Canadian economy.
CONTACT:
Geneviève Breton
Chief, Corporate Communications and Marketing
613-292-8353
