Sources: Cement Association of Canada, Ottawa; Staff reports
“Any meaningful attempt to tackle climate change and achieve sustainable development will require not only that all corners of the Canadian economy contribute, but that governments, industry, environmental groups and broader civil society rise above the rhetoric and strategic positioning of our respective sectors and work together,” Cement Association of Canada (CAC) President Michael McSweeney told 2012 Pollution Probe Gala guests.
“The cement industry, along with our allies in concrete, are ready to be proactive partners. Concrete is literally the foundation upon which modern societies and economies are built and we believe it will be the foundation of the sustainable societies and economies of the future.”
CAC was a platinum sponsor of the late-November event, staged at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Toronto. “If you really want to get a sense of who the leaders are in Canada in the area of sustainable development and environmental stewardship, it’s almost guaranteed they will be [here],” McSweeney noted. “The number and diversity of distinguished leaders is a testament to the vibrancy of the sustainability movement in Canada and to the great contribution Pollution Probe is making. This will only be as true as our commitment to sustainability. A track record of continuous improvement; a demonstrated commitment to transformative innovation, leadership, transparency and a culture of collaboration—we understand that these are the necessary ingredients to define and build a sustainable economy.
“We are pursuing robust life cycle assessments to better understand our impacts, as well as where and how cement and concrete can generate greater sustainability value; for example, how concrete’s inherent thermal mass can be used to significantly reduce the global warming potential of buildings; or how pervious pavements contribute to storm water management. From quarry extraction to concrete recycling, from energy efficiency to low-carbon fuels, from the quantum physics of cement chemistry to the Newtonian physics of highway fuel efficiency, the cement industry is partnering with a broad array of stakeholders to examine every aspect of our industry, to find solutions to the sustainability challenges that confront us.”
