Digital Workshop of EIC in Autumn 2021
Berlin. The EIC Autumn Workshop 2021 “A Vision for a More Sustainable and Resource Efficient Construction Industry” on 12 November 2021 discussed the elements for a roadmap to transform Europe´s construction sector in line with the EU climate goals. The webinar followed up on EIC´s Spring Workshop 2021 on Carbon Neutrality.
The policy key-note was given by the Head of the Strategy & Economic Assessment Unit of DG Climate Action in the European Commission, Tom van Ierland, who familiarised participants with the objectives and goals of the EU Green Deal and the ´Fit for 55` Climate Package.
Thereafter, the Chief Executive Officer of the European Cement Association (CEMBUREAU), Mr. Koen Coppenholle, informed in his keynote presentation titled “Reaching Climate Neutrality along the Cement and Concrete Value Chain by 2050” about the cement industry´s transition towards carbon neutrality by 2050. Low-carbon concrete – being the most important material in realising large and larger infrastructure projects – is of key interest to achieve carbon-neutrality along the construction value chain.
A further benchmark was set by Juan Manuel Cruz Palacios, Director H&S Sustainability at ACCIONA. In his inspiring key-note presentation “Business as Unusual – Providing Sustainable Solutions”, he shared Acciona´s Sustainability Master Plan 2025 towards becoming not only a sustainable but a regenerative infrastructure provider. In his presentation, he highlighted the need to enhance from the strategic level for reaching sustainability towards a concrete action and a holistic strategy commitment which includes the people and the planet.
In the final session, Norbert Pralle, Chairman of ENCORD and of the joint EIC / FIEC / ENCORD Working Group Carbon Neutrality, outlined the upcoming position on “A Vision for a More Sustainable and Resource-Efficient Construction Industry” which shall identify the most important fields of actions within the European construction ‘ecosystem’, such as:
1. Procurement
2. Finance
3. Data
4. Circularity
5. Energy
6. New Business Models
7. Technology
8. People.
During the subsequent panel discussion, Juan Manuel Cruz Palacios (Acciona), Juha Kostiainen (Executive Vice President Urban Development, YIT Corporation and EIC Treasurer), and Luke Aldred (Director Environment, AECOM Netherlands), commented on the draft manifesto and debated its impact on the industry.
We are pleased to provide a summary of the Workshop, please download the conference brochure here >> .
To obtain further information and view the presentations again, please visit our conference website, where the presentations are being provided for download in the speakers section.