Sources: Cemex S.A.B. de C.V., Monterrey, Mexico; Holcim AG, Zug, Switzerland; CP staff
Cemex S.A.B. de C.V. and Holcim AG are founding members of the First Movers Coalition (FMC), joining Amazon, Apple and nearly two dozen other major companies to accelerate development of early-stage decarbonization technologies through procurement and supply chain management practices. FMC will work across eight key sectors, seven of which—cement, steel, aluminum, chemicals, shipping, aviation and trucking—account for more than a third of global carbon emissions, but do not currently have cost-competitive energy alternatives to fossil fuels.
“Technology has given us the tools to reduce our emissions and build a stronger economy. For innovators and investors to play their part in tackling the climate crisis, they need clear market demand,” observes World Economic Forum (WEF) President Børge Brende. “The First Movers Coalition will leverage the collective purchasing power of leading companies and drive the need for these technologies.”
FMC launched at the United Nations-aligned COP26 summit in Glasgow as a partnership between WEF and the U.S. Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate. It brings together business leaders with global footprints to create near-term market demand for zero carbon solutions, and becomes the only buyers club working to scale new technologies across heavy industry and heavy-duty transport sectors. Coalition members underscore the importance of new and emerging technologies, which the International Energy Agency credits for about half of the emissions reduction measures aimed at keeping global temperature increase, through 2050, under 1.5°C versus pre-industrial levels.
“The net-zero transition requires unprecedented collaboration across value chains. The First Movers Coalition can achieve this,” says Holcim CEO Jan Jenisch. “Together we can grow the demand for net-zero solutions to drive more investment in next-generation green technologies. As a founding member, Holcim is committed to taking action on both the demand and supply side. We will buy more net-zero vehicles and continue to grow our range of green building solutions to scale up net-zero construction.”
“Cemex is committed to lead on the road to carbon neutrality,” affirms CEO Fernando Gonzalez. “We are proud to join forces with the World Economic Forum and other global companies to accelerate development of critical new decarbonizing technologies.” Under its Future in Action program, he adds, Cemex has committed to the most aggressive 2030 decarbonization goals in the heavy building materials industry, and is pursuing delivery of net zero carbon dioxide concrete globally by 2050.
In an early indicator of net zero-rooted procurement strategies, Cemex and Holcim have teamed with Volvo Group on deployment of electric battery-powered on-, on/off- and off-road equipment. — www.weforum.org/first-movers-coalition
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