- Aboutย 13% of global emissions are โembodiedโ in the materials used to construct buildings and other infrastructure.
- Theย two biggest polluters are cement and steel production, together responsible for around 14% of global emissions.ย Another 2%ย of global emissions come from aluminum production.
- Demand for these materials isย only projected to grow, with up to 45% more cement, 30% more steel, and 80% more aluminum expected to be required by 2050.
- All public infrastructure spending in Canada totalled $62.5 billion in 2018, about one-fifth of all spending on infrastructure in the country, including housing.
- Federal procurement accounts for just 4%, while federal spending that is transferred to provinces, territories, and municipalities accounts for another 13%.
- By taking a pan-Canadian approach, Canada could avoid up to half of its emissions from construction materials by 2030.