GCCA heads to climate change conference

The GCCA’s attendance of this meeting marks the association’s first attendance at international climate negotiations, under the umbrella of its recent partnership with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. It underlines the commitment of the cement and concrete sector to sustainable development and critical work to reduce global CO₂ emissions.

Claude Lorea, Cement Director for the GCCA, will take part in a number of head-to-head talks with key international stakeholders. This includes the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute, the International Chamber of Commerce, and the International Emissions Trading Association.

The association’s engagement in the conference will focus on priorities from the recent launch of its work programme. This includes reducing emissions through low carbon technologies, such as carbon capture, usage, and storage, as well as the contribution of concrete towards a low carbon and energy efficient built environment.

Recarbonation and important related measures for IPCC implementation are a key discussion point for the GCCA at the conference. The association will participate in a series of key events, at a global and regional level, in which member companies and affiliates are participating. This includes at the India and EU Pavilions where CEMBUREAU, the European Cement Association, and GCCA affiliate will present.

The association will also join the Chamber of Commerce ‘Business and Industry Day’ programme and the Global Climate Action industry event. The discussions demonstrated how transformative action in industrial sectors can have huge impacts on scaling up innovative low carbon solutions and creating a new circular economy for industry.

“With everyone acknowledging COP24 is the most critical gathering on climate change since the 2015 Paris Agreement, it is important that the GCCA and the cement and concrete sector is part of that discussion,” said Lorea. “There is a huge role for the private sector and major industries, which includes cement and concrete, in demonstrating leadership on the issue of climate change – that is what our GCCA members are committed to and why we are taking part in these talks.
“The GCCA exists to drive advances in sustainable construction whilst demonstrating industrial sustainable leadership in cement and concrete manufacturing. We are working to enhance the sector’s contribution to global development challenges.”

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/europe-cis/05122018/gcca-heads-to-climate-change-conference/