Opening Early Market for Low-Carbon Building Materials in China

The report, Opening Early Market for Low-Carbon Building Materials in China, examines the critical role of public procurement in accelerating the adoption of low-carbon building materials in China. Building materials account for over 20 percent of China’s total CO₂ emissions, with cement and steel being the largest contributors. With embodied carbon emissions accounting for 41 percent of a building’s total life-cycle emissions, prioritizing low-carbon materials is critical to reducing the carbon footprint of the built environment.

The report identifies key challenges to establishing a comprehensive low-carbon procurement system, including economic feasibility, lack of carbon accounting rules and carbon metrics, and a lack of effective regulatory incentives. It proposes several immediate actions to address these issues, such as promoting cost-effective low-carbon materials, like low-carbon concrete and recycled steel, which can reduce emissions without significantly increasing project costs. In the medium to long term, the report highlights the potential of new technologies, such as zero-carbon cement and hydrogen-based steel, to further reduce carbon emissions and improve economic viability.

The report also calls for strengthening carbon accounting systems, improving carbon footprint standards, and providing robust incentives for the production and use of low-carbon materials. These measures are essential to creating a market for low-carbon industrial materials and supporting China’s transition to a zero-carbon future.