Leading U.S. companies and public sector unite to tackle climate crisis, support American workers, and boost manufacturing through cleaner construction material procurement.
The Biden-Harris Administration continues its commitment to addressing the climate crisis, leveraging the largest-ever climate investment through the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This has fueled a clean energy manufacturing boom, attracted billions in private investment, created thousands of new clean energy jobs, and provided cleaner air and water across the nation.
The construction sector is a significant source of carbon emissions, with concrete and steel production alone accounting for over 15% of global emissions. To address this challenge, President Biden launched the Federal Buy Clean Initiative in 2021, utilizing the federal government’s purchasing power to catalyze markets for cleaner construction materials. Today, agencies have committed $4.5 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act to support these efforts.
In collaboration with nonprofits like RMI and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Administration hosted a series of regional convenings, culminating in new public and private sector commitments to strengthen the market for cleaner construction materials.
These commitments aim to boost U.S. manufacturing competitiveness, create good-paying jobs, and contribute to lowering the nation’s carbon footprint.
Key actions include:
- Federal and State Partnerships: The Federal-State Buy Clean Partnership involves 13 states in prioritizing lower-carbon construction materials in infrastructure projects. New commitments include:
- New York State: 30% reduction in carbon emissions from concrete by 2028.
- Los Angeles: 15% reduction targets for materials and five ultra-low-carbon concrete pilot projects.
- Washington State: New Buy Clean legislation to factor embodied carbon into procurement.
- Michigan: Partnerships to use cleaner materials in transportation projects.
- New York City: Environmental product declarations for concrete and steel.
- Private Sector Commitments: Major concrete and steel manufacturers are committing to decarbonization:
- Heidelberg Materials pledges 25% company-wide emission reductions by 2030 and 50% from a U.S. plant.
- Cemex and other companies plan significant cuts to concrete emissions, piloting lower-carbon solutions.
- Tech Companies’ Efforts: Data center developers like Microsoft, AWS, and Google are exploring ultra-low carbon construction methods. Microsoft’s Climate Innovation Fund is investing in cleaner steel and concrete suppliers.
- Real Estate Sector Initiatives: Leading developers such as Boston Properties and Turner Construction have pledged to use lower-emission materials and track carbon footprints in upcoming projects.
These actions are aligned with President Biden’s Buy Clean Initiative and broader climate goals, with a focus on reducing industrial emissions, spurring clean energy innovation, and creating a more sustainable construction industry.
Read full Fact Sheet from The White House
Source: Press Release White House, October 16, 2024
