ZGF has united with the First Movers Coalition (FMC) to send a strong market demand signal, emphasising the necessity of emerging low and zero carbon technologies crucial for achieving a net-zero economy.
Spearheaded by the World Economic Forum and the US Government, FMC directs its efforts toward sectors that present challenges in emissions reduction, including concrete, aluminium, steel, aviation, shipping, and trucking. Collectively, these sectors contribute to 30% of global emissions. Swiftly decarbonising these sectors to align with the 1.5-degree trajectory necessitates the adoption of low-carbon technologies that are currently not on par with prevailing carbon-intensive solutions. FMC participants harness their collective influence in terms of specification and procurement to expedite the scaling of pivotal emerging technologies crucial for the transition to a net-zero paradigm.
“ZGF has a long history of enabling market demand for innovative materials, including low-carbon concrete,” stated ZGF Managing Partner Ted Hyman. “Joining First Movers and working together to accelerate the uptake of net-zero materials is an important next step in our mission to design a sustainable future.”
Launched last year at COP27, the Cement & Concrete Sector set ambitious commitments for specifiers and purchasers of cement and concrete, including encouraging the advancement and deployment of breakthrough manufacturing technologies and supply chain transparency that will be needed to deliver net-zero cement and concrete.
“We are thrilled to welcome ZGF as members of the First Movers Coalition,” expressed Nancy Gillis, Programme Head for the First Movers Coalition. “Architects wield immense influence in shaping the built environment, a sector responsible for a staggering 40% of global emissions. With ZGF’s expertise and commitment, we look forward to collaborating to advance the industry towards a zero-carbon future.”
As an FMC signatory, ZGF commits that at least 10% of the cement/concrete poured for projects annually will meet or exceed the FMC’s definition for near-zero emissions by 2030, inclusive of any supplementary cementing materials (SCMs) and will exclude fossil-based SCMs by 2035.
