The United Nations (UN) recognized that concrete, in its built form, can absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, which is one of the greenhouse gases that cause climate change, and therefore can help improve the living environment.
This news reinforces that concrete is the most sustainable and resilient building material in the world and that its use provides a large number of social, and now ecological, benefits.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) of the largest existing international organization, the UN, noted in its most recent report that concrete can absorb over time up to 50% of the CO2 it produces. it is emitted during the decarbonation process in cement production.
In Mexico, many companies have focused on adjusting their operating models to reduce their emissions, seeking to stop Climate Change. In this case, the construction sector has not been the exception, as organizations such as the Mexican Chamber of the Construction Industry (CMIC), CEMEX and other companies in the field have launched sustainability initiatives in recent years.
For example, CEMEX announced that it will invest about $ 60 million in its “Future in Action” program, designed to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
The royal company reported that, as a first step, by 2030 it has the goal of reducing its CO2 emissions specifically by 35%, reaching 165 kg of CO2 per cubic meter. It even recently launched a line of low-carbon concretes called “Vertua”, as part of this effort carried out in Mexico and the world.
Concrete is one of the most used construction materials in the world, since according to experts it has constructive qualities that no other material has, such as durability, versatility and adaptability.
In addition, according to the Global Cement and Concrete Association, it has many environmental benefits, for example, it can be recycled as an aggregate to produce new concrete, significantly reducing emissions, making it part of the circular economy.
With the report released this month by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a step forward is taken in the cement industry’s efforts to establish itself as a green and sustainable industry.
More details on this UN disclosure can be found on the official site of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: https://www.ipcc.ch
and on the environmental benefits of concrete at: https://gccassociation.org/sustainability-benefits-of-concrete/