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To net zero & beyond Regardless of what industry or country you operate in, the reality is that net zero doesn’t come with an instruction manual. Governments around the world are committing to net zero targets by 2050, but how each nation and their industries arrive there will be by different journeys. The need for industry commitment, innovation, investment, crossindustry partnership, behavioural change and public sector support is common across all industry roadmaps.
The UK concrete and cement industry launched its roadmap to beyond net zero in 2020, reflecting not only our ambition but equally our commitment to these requirements. The model developed by the MPA that informs the roadmap has identified that net zero can be met through a blend of technological levers, including: decarbonised electricity and transport networks, fuel switching, greater use of low-carbon cements and concretes, as well as advanced
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carbon capture technology. While some of these levers are already proven technologies, others will involve close collaboration and input from more than one industry. Most will need additional support from UK local and central Government over the longer term, and crucially all will warrant concerted action and investment. This is because the task of deeper decarbonisation gets more challenging and complex the further on the journey we go to net zero. Currently, the UK roadmap represents our best course for achieving and going beyond net zero. However, as time progresses towards the 2050 target, it may be the case that certain levers can be dialled up or
down depending on our progress – much in the same way a master chef adjusts the ingredients they use to refine and perfect a signature dish.
Roadmap levers explained The first five of these technology levers focus on production related emissions.
Indirect emissions reduction from decarbonised electricity: a decarbonised electricity grid can bring forward the adoption of new technologies that require electrical power, such as carbon capture and electrical heat – including from plasma energy. Artificial intelligence (AI), automation and other digital solutions will also deliver
MPANI 2022 | 2023
