WCA releases climate change action plan

The World Cement Association (WCA) has released its Climate Change Action Plan, a manifesto for delivering the association’s contribution to the objectives of the Paris Agreement. The aim of the agreement was to keep global temperature rise below 2°.

Aimed at helping WCA members develop climate protection strategies and best practices, the plan outlines various measures and will be presented in London at the WCA World Cement Conference in December.

Focusing on five key areas identified during the WCA Global Climate Change Forum, the plan aims to improve transparency around the reporting of greenhouse gas emissions. New methodologies and tools will be developed for members to monitor and report their CO₂ emissions. Within the next two years, the WCA plans to develop a tailored monitoring and reporting protocol, as well as delivering the required training. This is all with the aim that members will be able to effectively assess the carbon footprint of their products and participate in the ‘Getting the Numbers Right’ global database of CO₂ and energy information.

In addition, the WCA will advocate standards and building costs that encourage low-carbon solutions, ensuring the optimal use of cement products in construction and the increase of material efficiency in buildings. It is expected that members will commit to enhancing their efforts in informing, educating, and training concrete producers and users, as well as supporting the professionalism of the construction sector.

This is all with the goal of reducing average material use, enhancing the quality and durability of buildings, and thereby reducing the industry’s carbon footprint. To accelerate adoption of waste co-processing practices and create necessary framework conditions, the WCA will also establish an internal knowledge exchange platform on a global level.

50% of the technologies that are required to achieve a 2° scenario must still be developed. Thus, another cornerstone of the WCA’s action plan is a commitment to sharing knowledge among WCA members, with the aim of accelerating innovation. The annual WCA Global Climate Change Forum will be an essential element, with experts joining CEOs from around the world to discuss climate issues.

The WCA also plans to update its members regularly about new products and the most relevant worldwide regulatory developments related to climate change. More specifically, these will relate to the mitigation of CO₂ emissions. The association also plans to reach out to equipment suppliers to work on technological challenges in collaboration.

Finally, the WCA plans to reward its members’ best practices and innovative business models, setting up a process for the recognition of the most innovative products, solutions, and/or business models that will support the transition to a low-carbon built environment.

“As a global organisation, we believe that reducing greenhouse gas emissions and tackling climate changes effectively requires joint effort,” said Bernard Mathieu, Director of the WCA Climate Programme. “With a membership base representing more than 1 billion tpy cement production capacity, the WCA and its members have the capacity to affect change in pursuing the necessary transition to a low carbon economy at a global level.”

The WCA is the only independent organisation working on a global basis to represent and promote the cement industry and its stakeholders.