Today, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, and His Excellency Omar Ahmed Suwaina Al Suwaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), announced the launch of the Cement & Concrete Breakthrough initiative at COP28 in Dubai. This initiative reaffirms Canada’s commitment to working with countries, businesses and international partner organizations to accelerate investments in the technologies, tools and policies that the cement and concrete industry needs to realize net-zero solutions by 2050.

“Innovation and investments in clean technology are crucial to building a competitive green economy. As a global leader in research and innovation, Canada is a key player in the net-zero carbon economy and is committed to laying the foundation of a competitive green cement and concrete industry that will create green jobs and build a clean future for all Canadians and the world. With the breakthrough initiative, we will help pave the way to achieve net-zero carbon cement and concrete by 2050.”
– The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

“Canada is committed to working with partners to accelerate the decarbonization of key sectors, including cement. The Breakthrough Agenda is an ambitious action plan for international collaboration to make clean technologies and sustainable solutions more affordable and accessible. It provides an opportunity to support and strengthen Canadian industry in its efforts to achieve net zero by 2050.” 
– The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

“We support and welcome the launch of the cement breakthrough initiative. Cement and concrete are essential for so much of our modern world and will also be needed for meeting the challenges ahead. They will play a key role in providing resilient and sustainable infrastructure and safely housing communities around our planet. Our member companies, which operate all around the world, are fully committed to a net zero future—and it will take the combined efforts of industry and government to deliver on this commitment. This is the decade to deliver, and we are delighted to work with the cement breakthrough initiative and the Government of Canada to accelerate the transition.”
– Thomas Guillot, Chief Executive of the Global Cement and Concrete Association

• With the launch of the Cement & Concrete Breakthrough initiative, Canada and the UAE issued a joint ministerial statement underlining their dedication to further decarbonization in the sector.

• Created in 2022 at COP26, the Breakthrough Agenda provides a framework for initiatives that enable countries to accelerate decarbonization actions, beginning in five key sectors of the economy: power, road transport, steel, hydrogen and agriculture.

• With the launch of two additional breakthrough initiatives at COP28—buildings, and cement and concrete—the Breakthrough Agenda now cover sectors responsible for more than 60% of global emissions.

• A growing number of countries have joined Canada and the UAE to endorse the Cement & Concrete Breakthrough initiative, including Germany, Türkiye, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

• Canada’s leading role in the Cement & Concrete Breakthrough initiative is part of the Action Plan to 2030.

• Canada’s Roadmap to Net-Zero Carbon Concrete by 2050 aligns with Canada’s Emissions Reductions Plan—an ambitious plan to fight climate change while bringing sustainable, lasting economic prosperity to Canada, which charts a credible path to emissions that are 40% lower than 2005 levels by 2030.

• Budgets 2022 and 2023 introduced new measures to help increase the commercialization and deployment of low-carbon technologies and resources and to support the continued growth of clean technology businesses across Canada, including $15 billion for the Canada Growth Fund to accelerate the investment of private capital in decarbonization and cleantech projects, help promote the diversification of Canada’s economy, help meet Canada’s climate targets and strengthen Canada’s economic resilience and capacity.

• Cement production in Canada was valued at more than $1.3 billion in 2019.

• Cement is a significant source of industrial CO2 emissions around the world, representing 26% of global industrial sector CO2 emissions in 2019.

Related products

• Ministerial Statement

Associated links

• Government of Canada and Cement Association of Canada launch Roadmap to Net-Zero Carbon Concrete by 2050
• Budget 2022: A Plan to Grow Our Economy and Make Life More Affordable
• Clean technology: Canada’s clean technology plan, investments and innovations for a clean growth future
• A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy: Canada’s strengthened climate plan to create jobs and support people, communities and the planet
• Greening Government Strategy: A Government of Canada Directive
• Greening government

Audrey Champoux
Press Secretary and Senior Communications Advisor
Office of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
audrey.champoux@ised-isde.gc.ca

Media Relations
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
media@ised-isde.gc.ca

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