Canada Releases First Step Towards Net-Zero Concrete

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (November 9th, 2022) — Canada’s cement industry has been steadfast in its commitment to tackling climate change and reaching net zero by 2050.

This unique partnership with the Government of Canada further demonstrates the industry’s leadership in building the sustainable world of tomorrow. The Roadmap to Net-Zero Carbon Concrete by 2050 guides the technologies, tools and policies needed for the Canadian cement industry to achieve net‑zero carbon emissions while ensuring it remains competitive in a global net-zero economy.

Marie Glenn, Chair of the Board, and Adam Auer, President and CEO of the Cement Association of Canada, joined with François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Canada, to announce this critical partnership milestone in working towards decarbonizing the most used building material in the world.

The Roadmap to Net-zero Carbon Concrete was spearheaded by a joint government-industry working group, co-led by the Cement Association of Canada and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. The working group includes key players from the federal government, the Canadian cement and concrete industry, and relevant environmental experts.

Concrete has stood the test of time, laying the foundation upon which Canada’s communities have grown and prospered. It is found in virtually every class of infrastructure.

Its strength, durability and safety will play a critical role in building the sustainable and resilient infrastructure of the future. Set to be released in the coming months, the cement and concrete industry action plan to produce net-zero concrete by 2050 will include significant milestones, including cutting carbon emissions by up to 40% by 2030.

“Decarbonizing concrete is a necessity, and Canada’s cement and concrete industry has demonstrated that it is up to the task,” said Marie Glenn, Chair of the Board, Cement Association of Canada”

“This Roadmap demonstrates our industry’s leadership in CO2 emissions reduction and positions us to achieve our goal of net-zero cement by 2050” she added.

“It’s just a start. We look forward to continuing our work with the Government of Canada to implement the priorities identified in the Roadmap and to ensure that the right combination of incentives and regulatory policies continue to be put in place for our industry to thrive and succeed in a competitive net-zero global economy.”

Her thoughts were echoed by Adam Auer, President and CEO of the Cement Association of Canada. He noted “Canada’s cement and concrete industry are leaders in the fight to stop climate change. While we are steadfast in our commitment to reduce our emissions by 15MT cumulatively by 2030 and reach true net zero by 2050, we know we can’t do it alone.”

“Together in collaboration with the government we will continue to support the innovation and investment needed on our path to delivering net-zero concrete, while at the same time preserving its properties as a durable, resilient, versatile, and cost-effective material,” he added.

Working together, Canada’s cement and concrete industry will remain competitive throughout the low-carbon transition, delivering emissions reductions while supporting jobs in communities across the country.

KEY FACTS

• Concrete, is the most consumed material on the planet after water. Cement production to make that concrete, accounts for approximately 7% of annual global CO2 emissions, and 1.5% of Canada’s.
• Canada’s cement and concrete industry has committed to reducing over 15 megatonnes of GHGs cumulatively by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2050.
• The cement industry was the first to join Canada’s Net Zero Challenge – a voluntary initiative which requires public transparency.
• Decarbonization pathways for the cement industry include low-carbon fuels, performance-based codes, standards and procurement policies, material efficiency, and carbon capture (CCUS). With approximately 60 percent of cement emissions resulting from industrial processes in the manufacturing of clinker (the key ingredient in cement), clean technologies like CCUS are needed for the industry to meet net-zero emissions.
• The U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) created an imperative for Canada to match the speed and ambition of its largest trading market in regard to clean energy infrastructure investments and incentives.
• Last week’s Fall Economic Statementhelped close the gap with the IRA thereby ensuring Canada remains a first choice for the trillions in private capital waiting to be invested in clean technologies around the world. The financial incentives and tools put forward in the FES will help Canada’s industrial sectors thrive in a competitive global green economy.
• The Canada Growth Fund will focus on the need to make investments that will attract substantial private-sector investment in Canadian businesses and help them seize the opportunities provided by a net-zero economy. It will offer a flexible suite of investment tools such as CCFDs to provide predictability and reduce risks for long-term investments in clean technologies – based on a predictable price of carbon and carbon credits. These new investment tools will complement the Net-Zero Accelerator and Investment Tax Credit for CCUS.

ABOUT CAC

The Cement Association of Canada (CAC) 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 on the Canadian economy.