Roadmaps and studies on decarbonisation and resource efficiency worldwide address the pathway to low carbon and near zero carbon cement, concrete and concrete buildings. Besides the technical aspects one of the prerequisites for climate neutrality clearly is a comprehensive policy package along the entire cement and concrete value chain to provide the right incentives and create an environment in which business activities can be geared to the needs of climate protection. It includes the creation of a level playing field where low carbon products can compete on an equal footing with less cost-intensive conventional technologies and where carbon leakage is also effectively prevented.

R&D, engineering, sales and marketing, standard makers, contractors, building authorities

A study by the Industrial Deep Decarbonisation Initiative (IDDI) aims to assess the current state of greenhouse gas accounting standards for steel, cement and concrete and to identify the key issues driving variability in reporting. It also makes recommendations on how standards can be updated to address these gaps and ultimately create a more consistent and reliable accounting system. A report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) focuses on the implementation of policies to dramatically reduce CO₂ emissions from heavy industry in the G7 and beyond. The Concrete Sustainability Council (CSC) has also developed its certification system to include a carbon footprint module in response to growing global demand for sustainable building materials. Taking into account the above initiatives, the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) is preparing a global definition of low and near zero carbon concrete. The aim is to create clarity in the market and to educate all stakeholders involved in the design, construction, operation and management of real estate about effective optimisation approaches to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

• Introduction: From the product to the building – incentives for green building products and buildings
• Driving consistency in the greenhouse gas accounting system: A pathway to harmonized standards for steel, cement, and concrete
• Achieving Net Zero Heavy Industry Sectors in G7 Members
• Case study: Implementation of the IDDI/IEA approach in Germany
• CO₂-Module at the Concrete Sustainability Council (CSC)
• Low carbon and near zero carbon concrete: The global approach
• Framework for carbon neutral buildings and sites
• Conclusions: Prerequisites for a climate neutral industry – are we on track?