Cement and Concrete Industry Leaders Call for Deeper Collaboration with Governments on Net Zero Targets

• Global policymakers including the United Nations, USA Dept of Energy, global economists and built environment leaders met cement and concrete industry CEOs in Atlanta, USA, to discuss how to build a sustainable future built environment
• The Global Cement and Concrete Association’s CEO Gathering also discussed implementation of its Roadmap to Net Zero, which sets out how the industry can fully decarbonise by 2050
• The meeting included a strong call for policymakers, governments and industry to work together to achieve net zero future
• Survey conducted in advance of the gathering shows decarbonisation ranks as the highest priority area among cement and concrete industry leaders

(Atlanta, 9 June 2022) – The Global Cement and Concrete Association’s (GCCA) worldwide ‘CEO Gathering’ got underway in Atlanta, USA, bringing together CEOs of leading cement and concrete companies, as well as policymakers and built environment leaders to progress the implementation of the industry’s Roadmap to Net Zero.

The two-day gathering, titled ‘Concrete Future: Net Zero Delivery - From Commitment to Action’, is the first face-to-face meeting of industry leaders for three years. Their event includes high-level discussions on how to address roadblocks, find shared solutions and collaborate with wider societal stakeholders to secure the sector’s net zero pathway.

The gathering explored how the industry can work more effectively with governments and to increase investment for the deployment of Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) - a key part of the industry’s Roadmap. The future role of the built environment in delivering a more sustainable and resilient world was also a key topic for discussion among delegates.

Thomas Guillot, GCCA Chief Executive, said: “To achieve net zero and enable the delivery of the sustainable built environment of the future, there needs to be ongoing engagement and deeper collaboration between our industry and government in the years ahead. Targeted government policy will be vital to removing barriers and to expediting our industry’s decarbonisation plans.”

“Cement and concrete will play a vital role in delivering a net zero world. In 2021 our industry made a breakthrough in pledging to reach net zero by 2050. This year in March, we launched the first of a series of Net Zero Accelerator initiatives to help national cement and concrete industries ensure net zero targets are met.”

Notable speakers at the net zero gathering included: Selwin Hart, UN Special Advisor on Climate; Brad Crabtree, Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy and Carbon Management in the U.S. Department of Energy; Diane Hoskins, co-CEO of Gensler – the world’s largest architecture firm; Bjorn Otto, Chair of Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI)’s Executive Committee; and Dr Gernot Wagner, Climate Economist and Author. A survey conducted in advance of the gathering found that decarbonisation ranked as the highest priority area among cement and concrete industry leaders. The survey also showed overwhelming confidence among industry leaders that their industry will continue to prosper as society transitions to a net-zero future.