National cement association commits to net-zero path
The Cement Association of Canada has set its sights on radically transforming the industry by 2050.
Crews begin a concrete pour at a site in B.C. – Province of B.C.
Key Takeaways:
- The Cement Association Canada is the first industry-wide group to join the Net-Zero Challenge.
- The group will implement a plan to produce net-zero concrete by 2050.
- Details of this plan will be released this fall.
The Whole Story:
The Cement Association of Canada announced it would be the first industry-wide participant to join the federal government’s 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.
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.
The association noted that 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,” said the group.
The association added that Concrete’s strength, durability and resilience will play a critical role in ensuring the nation’s infrastructure stands up to extreme weather– heat, flooding, wildfires and wind.
The group stated that it will release an industry action plan this fall outlining the steps the industry needs to take to produce net-zero concrete by 2050. The plan will highlight significant milestones, including cutting carbon emissions up to 40 per cent by 2030.
“Climate change is our industry’s most significant challenge,” said Adam Auer, president of the association. “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.”
