ACI update from Day 5 of COP30

11/15/2025

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.

Day 5 of COP30 placed a spotlight on the cement and concrete sector with a dedicated event co-hosted by the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) and Cement Breakthrough titled, “Advancing Decarbonisation of Cement and Concrete for the World.”

While the emphasis leaned more toward cement than concrete, the session showcased the intense global momentum behind efforts to decarbonize one of the world’s most essential industries.

Following opening remarks, the audience heard detailed presentations from GCCA, Heidelberg Materials, and Votorantim Cimentos. Each organization outlined progress made over the past year, with the keyword continuing to be collaboration.

Thomas Guillot, Chief Executive of GCCA, issued a call to governments and policymakers, urging support across five critical policy areas:

For me, several observations jumped out:

ACI has an important seat to claim at that table, and COP30 continues to highlight just how essential that broader industry voice will be.

– Antonio Nanni