1. Buildings and Transport Infrastructure

Recent estimates indicate that the construction sector accounts for approximately one-quarter of global CO2 emissions. We have assessed the potential for reducing the climate impacts of both infrastructure projects (road construction) and the construction of buildings. In assessing the energy supply, we show how future steel production can contribute with flexibility within the electricity system, thereby supporting the efficient integration of wind and solar power. The results indicate that it is technically possible to decrease by 40–50 percent the CO2 emissions from road and building construction projects, through applying current best-available technologies and practices. Moreover, it will be possible to achieve close to net-zero emissions by Year 2045. The latter would require transformative technologies such as CCS being applied to cement production and electrification.