Global Coalition Sets New Targets to Cut Carbon Emissions from Public Construction Projects

A global coalition led by the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) will announce new international targets to reduce carbon emissions from public construction projects, aiming to incentivize the use of low-carbon steel, cement, and concrete. The Green Public Procurement Pledge, to be announced on Friday, September 23, at the 13th Clean Energy Ministerial in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, targets governments, private organizations, and companies that produce and use these materials. By 2030, governments will be asked to require low-emission materials in public construction projects, with "signature projects" using near-zero emission materials. The pledge also includes targets for monitoring and disclosure of embodied carbon emissions from steel, cement, and concrete by 2025 and aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050.

Key Takeaways:

• The Green Public Procurement Pledge aims to incentivize low-carbon production and use of steel, cement, and concrete, which contribute to 50% of all industrial emissions.
• The pledge targets governments to require low-emission materials in public construction projects by 2030 and aims for net-zero emissions by 2050.
• Private sector partners include associations of companies that make or use steel, cement, and concrete, with companies like Canada, Germany, India, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates already part of the IDDI coalition.
• The pledge will also include targets announced at last year's COP26 to require the monitoring and disclosure of embodied carbon emissions from steel, cement, and concrete in publicly-funded construction projects by 2025.
• National and sub-national government entities will be asked to sign up to one or more pledge levels and encouraged to make specific commitments following national consultations.
• The pledge recognizes that procurement of near-zero carbon materials is subject to availability of technology supply and may come at a premium cost.
• IDDI was launched at the 2021 Clean Energy Ministerial and is an international initiative of the Clean Energy Ministerial.

Statistics:

• The industry currently contributes about 24% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions.
• Steel and cement account for 50% of all industrial emissions.
• The pledge aims to reduce industrial carbon emissions from steel, cement, and concrete.
• Public construction projects include buildings, roads, railways, and other transportation infrastructure, and energy-utility sites such as hydroelectric dams and wind turbines.

Sources:

• Clean Energy Ministerial
• UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
• Mission Possible Partnership
• Leadership Group for the Industry Transition
• Climate Group
• First Movers Coalition