Climate Policy Engagement Analysis
Climate Lobbying Overview: The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) appears to take few positive, but also negative and unclear positions on climate change policies, with limited, and mostly top-line engagement between 2021-23. While the industry group broadly supported the development of policy frameworks to aid the decarbonization of cement production, it appeared unsupportive of emissions trading policies.
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: The Global Cement and Concrete Association has communicated broad support for long-term climate ambition and regulation. For example, the association supported the cement industry to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 to contribute to the global GHG emissions reduction goals, on its corporate website, accessed in July 2023. GCCA also stressed the role of governments to facilitate decarbonization efforts through the adoption of carbon pricing mechanisms on its website, accessed in July 2023. InfluenceMap did not detect public engagement from the association on the UN Paris Agreement in 2021-23.
Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: The Global Cement and Concrete Association has limited engagement with climate policy. On its corporate website, accessed in July 2023, GCCA stated cap-and-trade mechanisms must protect the industry against carbon leakage, and supported free allocations of CO2 credits to exposed sectors. On its [1245144 corporate website, accessed in July 2023, GCCA appeared to support energy efficiency legislation for buildings, but also advocated for technology and material neutrality in assessing the CO2 performance of buildings, suggesting policymakers should avoid comparisons of environmental performance at construction products-level.
Positioning on Energy Transition: The Global Cement and Concrete Association does not appear to have a detailed position on the energy transition. On its corporate website, accessed in July 2023, the association advocated for policies with a mixed impact on the energy transition, including the adoption of regulations that promote the uptake of alternative fuels and co-processing. GCCA Chief Executive Thomas Guillot, repeatedly called for policy frameworks to accelerate the decarbonization of the cement industry, for example in a corporate blog published in September 2022.