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BBC

Climate love

The concrete that helps the climate.

From this urban concrete jungle to the vast swathes of the world's coastlines lined with concrete, concrete is arguably the material that best defines the Anthropocene. And we're using more of it almost every year. Soon there will be so much concrete in the world it will outweigh all living matter.
The problems that come with our extraordinary reliance on this material are many and varied. Blank stretches of concrete devoid of vegetation create biodiversity deserts. Concrete is also impervious to water, part of what makes it a great building material, but can lead to flooding in urban areas.
One of the biggest challenges for concrete is the sheer scale of its impact on the climate: about 8% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. Cement, the component of concrete that acts as a binder to glue sand and stones together, is responsible for the bulk of concrete's carbon emissions.
But what if we could turn these vast grey swathes of building material into something that actually helps the climate? Concrete that doesn't emit carbon, and even absorbs it, is a crucial step along the way to sustainable construction.
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230309-how-carbon-negative-concrete-can-help-the-climate


Join me in the first episode of Future Planet's new video series, New Directions, where we explore what it takes to turn concrete from a major carbon source into a carbon sink.

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8 more agrees trigger contact with the recipient

  • Sven Nilson

    102 w

    There are examples of how to make the concrete "greener". Read the article on DI (use Google Translater) https://www.di.se/hallbart-naringsliv/bolagen-som-ska-gora-betongen-gron/ och review https://app.wedonthavetime.org/profile/thomas_concrete_group_ab

    4
    • Sven Nilson

      102 w

      There are many advantages of concrete, but the disadvantages of carbon dioxide are very important to deal with.

      2
      • Tabitha Kimani

        103 w

        This concrete will be a great step towards decarbonizing the construction industry.

        4
        • Annett Michuki..

          103 w

          every sustainable measures are welcome for trial

          3
          • Daniel Waweru

            103 w

            We have many solutions i am glad. This measures should be adopted by contractors across the globe, they will go a long way

            10
            • Joseph Githinji

              103 w

              Change is inevitable, all contractors must adopt this environmental friendly concrete.

              14

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