ACI reflections from Day 1 of COP30 in Brazil

11/11/2025

ACI Past President Antonio Nanni is at COP30 Brazil this week, representing ACI to reaffirm our leadership in the world of concrete and to make sure our commitment to our strategic goal of advancing resiliency and sustainability in the construction industry is communicated. The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the largest global United Nations event for discussions and negotiations on climate change. The meeting is held annually, with the presidency rotating among the five UN-recognized regions.

Dr. Nanni is providing a daily report from the event floor. Watch his latest video from Belém.

The opening day of COP30 in the Blue Zone carried a palpable sense of urgency. Across every panel and meeting room, delegates, policymakers, and industry leaders spoke with a shared conviction that achieving a sustainable future will depend not only on innovation but on the systems that enable it to thrive.

My first session of the day, hosted by the World Green Economy Organization (WGEO), featured insights from the International Code Council (ICC). The panel delivered a reminder that codes and standards are foundational to climate progress. As new materials and technologies emerge, they must be implemented safely, efficiently, and consistently around the world.

Later, I attended a compelling discussion co-hosted by UNIDO, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) focused on accelerating decarbonization in the cement and concrete industries. The session, “𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗲𝘀: 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼r,” included a strong case study from Thailand that reiterates progress toward net zero in cement and concrete is not just possible, it’s happening.

In addition to the panel sessions, dozens of committee meetings took place where delegates from around the world reported progress since the last COP and developed new action plans.

As Day 1 came to a close, the message resonated clearly. The path to a greener, more resilient world will be built on shared standards, global collaboration, and verified progress.

– Antonio Nanni