Washington D.C., January 20, 2021 – The Portland Cement Association (PCA), representing America’s cement manufacturers, welcomes the Biden Administration’s plan to re-engage with our international trading partners in the Paris Agreement to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. “Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. The cement and concrete industry have an important role to play in decarbonizing the manufacturing sector while providing the building materials necessary for a safe, resilient, and sustainable economy,” said Michael Ireland, PCA President and CEO.

PCA and its member companies have recently announced their ambition to reach carbon neutrality across the cement and concrete value chain by 2050 and are currently developing a roadmap to achieve the necessary reductions. “The PCA roadmap will build on the industry’s long-history of continuous improvement in energy efficiency and product performance, said, Rick Bohan, PCA Vice President of Sustainability. “Reaching net zero emissions will require cooperation from manufacturers, suppliers, technology developers, policy makers, and the building community.”

“Federal policymakers will have a particularly important role to play,” said Sean O’Neill, PCA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs. “Some of the technologies needed to tackle industrial decarbonization are still in the research and development phase. Governmental support is needed to accelerate both development and deployment. We also need to make sure that federal policies support industrial decarbonization without undermining the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers.” 

The Biden Administration’s re-engagement with the international trading partners strengthens the U.S. government’s voice in developing balanced global decarbonization strategies. “Climate change is a global issue, and it will require global cooperation, “said O’Neill. “The U.S. cannot solve this problem alone.“

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The Portland Cement Association (PCA), founded in 1916, is the premier policy, research, education, and market intelligence organization serving America’s cement manufacturers. PCA members represent over 90% of U.S. cement production capacity and have facilities in all 50 states. The association promotes safety, sustainability, and innovation in all aspects of construction, fosters continuous improvement in cement manufacturing and distribution, and generally promotes economic growth and sound infrastructure investment. For more information, visit www.cement.org.