The United Nations Industrial Development Organization- UNIDO and the Global Cement and Concrete Association- GCCA have signed a groundbreaking agreement to collaborate on decarbonising the cement and concrete industry, with a special focus on the Global South.
Driving Industrial Decarbonisation: A New Partnership
UNIDO, supporting its 172 member states in economic and industrial development aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals- SDGs, has extensive experience in renewable energy projects and clean energy technology applications. Their global partnerships have successfully guided industries towards achieving net-zero emissions.
The GCCA, representing 80% of cement production outside China and including several major Chinese manufacturers, leads the industry’s decarbonisation efforts through its GCCA 2050 Net Zero Concrete Roadmap. Cement and concrete, critical for infrastructure such as homes, hospitals, and roads, are responsible for about 7% of global CO2 emissions due to their widespread use.
Memorandum of Understanding
The Memorandum of Understanding between UNIDO and GCCA marks a commitment to tackle key sustainability and decarbonisation challenges. At the signing ceremony in Austria, UNIDO Director General Gerd Müller highlighted the importance of cement and concrete in resilient infrastructure development. He emphasized the necessity of decarbonising these sectors to reduce CO2 emissions and combat climate change. Müller acknowledged the technical, market-related, and policy challenges faced by UNIDO member states and expressed his enthusiasm for the new cooperation phase with GCCA.
Thomas Guillot, CEO of GCCA, noted that their existing Net Zero Roadmap and accelerator programme involve collaboration with policymakers, governments, and industry to address procurement and resource challenges, particularly in the Global South. He expressed hope that the agreement with UNIDO would accelerate meaningful progress.
Key Pledges of the Partnership
The partnership agreement outlines several key pledges:
- Policy Recommendations: Provide guidance to decision-makers to create market conditions conducive to developing low and near-zero emissions cement and concrete.
- Technological Innovation: Develop and promote innovative technological solutions to help meet net-zero commitments.
- Joint Events: Organise international industry and government events to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange.
- Collaborative Publications: Co-author and publish documents, recommendations, and research tools to advance industry knowledge and best practices.
- Showcasing Innovations: Identify and promote promising companies and innovative solutions at relevant events and in publications.
This collaboration aims to address the significant CO2 emissions associated with cement and concrete production. By pooling their expertise and resources, UNIDO and GCCA intend to create sustainable, low-emission solutions that can be implemented globally, with particular emphasis on overcoming challenges in the Global South. The partnership is poised to play a critical role in advancing global efforts to mitigate climate change through industrial decarbonisation.
