Bridges

Concrete, the most widely used construction material globally, is responsible for approximately 7-8% of global carbon emissions, a figure projected to rise in the coming years. Under the Paris Agreement, Australia aims to reduce its total emissions by 43% below 2005 levels by 2030 and to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Similarly, New Zealand has committed to a 44% reduction by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050.

This project has identified strategies for reducing emissions in cement and concrete used in transportation infrastructure, focusing on both Australian and New Zealand requirements. It has investigated approaches for adoption by road authorities and industry to lower the carbon intensity of concrete, particularly through reducing cement content. The collaborative project identified current industry practices, key challenges in adopting low carbon concrete, and provided recommendations for transportation agencies to enable the integration of innovative materials and low carbon concrete into their specifications and delivery requirements.

The identified main barriers to implementing low carbon concrete in road infrastructure include the lack of standardisation, performance variability, supply chain limitations, durability concerns, uncertainty as how to use the materials, lack of demonstrated performance for innovative materials and economic factors. The project highlighted several key strategies to overcome challenges and promote the adoption of low carbon concrete. These include promoting success stories, conducting trial projects, developing performance-based standards, understanding the capabilities and limitations of local supply chains, and expanding knowledge on the use of innovative materials. These efforts are vital to achieving global climate goals and ensuring that design choices across the supply chain in Australia and New Zealand are sustainable.