Hi Melanie, thanks for the under appreciated focus on concrete. A policy of no new motorways and tunnels would help reduce our future concrete usage. I understand the Building Act and associated stds need changes to get the shift away from concrete and steel back to wood. There have been some amazing high rise buildings made of cross laminated timber overseas but sadly none here yet. Our wood processing industry needs a makeover and MPI have just released an Industry Transformation Plan for this.
Loved the podcast with Bernard! Keep up the great work.
Thanks so much. That's true, massive quantities of concrete going into those new motorways. It's interesting to think that the Building Act might be having an impact on climate change, just goes to show how everything is connected. And we certainly do have to hope our forestry industry can get away from exporting raw logs (not just for the massive quantities of fumigant involved).
Well presented info on concrete and cement manufacturing process thanks Melanie.
I watched a doco recently suggesting Egypts pyramid ‘stones’ might in fact be a poured form of concrete, which if correct, would answer some questions of their many mysteries.
Wow, that's a fascinating theory. They certainly were extraordinarily advanced and I can see how the pyramids would have been much easier to build if they could cast blocks in place.
Yes it is quite appealing, particularly answers the question of how such precision (10mm in 200m) was possible in the level of the courses, and the precision of the inclined passageways. Worth a watch.
The ‘poured basalt’ theory in the same movie for statuary is also appealing, but less convincing given melted basalt would (as I understand it as a non-chemist) form black obsidian upon cooling.
Another great piece, Melanie! Fascinated by this topic because I actually have people close to me who used to work in the concrete industry, and one of their reasons for quitting was because of how carbon intensive it is, and how there is not enough ambition for rapid decarbonisation.
Really cool to hear that the Global Cement and Concrete Association has said it will reach net zero emissions by 2050 without offsets. +1 to Sonya's comment too, about how reducing construction of new motorway and tunnels (and prioritising public transport as an alternative) would reduce emissions from not only private vehicles, but also the roading infrastructure itself!
Thanks Jenny. I can understand people becoming uncomfortable with the industry, it's good that there's some progress but everything seems so slow, not just in concrete.
Fascinating! I had no idea concrete was such a big CO2 producer...I like that you talked about some initiatives working to diminish its impact, as well. I remember touring a cement plant in my hometown...it is really an amazing process, mind-boggling to think of the Romans doing substantially similar work 1400 years ago.
Thank you. I can imagine that visiting a cement plant would be amazing. I find myself fascinated by the huge industrial processes that support us, even though their impacts are so worrying.
So fascinating! Loved this deep contextual explanation. Your essays would be awesome as a collection for those trying to connect one issue with the gazillion others within the climate space.
Hi Melanie, thanks for the under appreciated focus on concrete. A policy of no new motorways and tunnels would help reduce our future concrete usage. I understand the Building Act and associated stds need changes to get the shift away from concrete and steel back to wood. There have been some amazing high rise buildings made of cross laminated timber overseas but sadly none here yet. Our wood processing industry needs a makeover and MPI have just released an Industry Transformation Plan for this.
Loved the podcast with Bernard! Keep up the great work.
Thanks so much. That's true, massive quantities of concrete going into those new motorways. It's interesting to think that the Building Act might be having an impact on climate change, just goes to show how everything is connected. And we certainly do have to hope our forestry industry can get away from exporting raw logs (not just for the massive quantities of fumigant involved).
Well presented info on concrete and cement manufacturing process thanks Melanie.
I watched a doco recently suggesting Egypts pyramid ‘stones’ might in fact be a poured form of concrete, which if correct, would answer some questions of their many mysteries.
Wow, that's a fascinating theory. They certainly were extraordinarily advanced and I can see how the pyramids would have been much easier to build if they could cast blocks in place.
Yes it is quite appealing, particularly answers the question of how such precision (10mm in 200m) was possible in the level of the courses, and the precision of the inclined passageways. Worth a watch.
https://youtu.be/KMAtkjy_YK4
‘Great Pyramid K 2019 - movie’
The ‘poured basalt’ theory in the same movie for statuary is also appealing, but less convincing given melted basalt would (as I understand it as a non-chemist) form black obsidian upon cooling.
Great, thanks, I'll check it out.
Another great piece, Melanie! Fascinated by this topic because I actually have people close to me who used to work in the concrete industry, and one of their reasons for quitting was because of how carbon intensive it is, and how there is not enough ambition for rapid decarbonisation.
Really cool to hear that the Global Cement and Concrete Association has said it will reach net zero emissions by 2050 without offsets. +1 to Sonya's comment too, about how reducing construction of new motorway and tunnels (and prioritising public transport as an alternative) would reduce emissions from not only private vehicles, but also the roading infrastructure itself!
Thanks Jenny. I can understand people becoming uncomfortable with the industry, it's good that there's some progress but everything seems so slow, not just in concrete.
Fascinating! I had no idea concrete was such a big CO2 producer...I like that you talked about some initiatives working to diminish its impact, as well. I remember touring a cement plant in my hometown...it is really an amazing process, mind-boggling to think of the Romans doing substantially similar work 1400 years ago.
Thank you. I can imagine that visiting a cement plant would be amazing. I find myself fascinated by the huge industrial processes that support us, even though their impacts are so worrying.
So fascinating! Loved this deep contextual explanation. Your essays would be awesome as a collection for those trying to connect one issue with the gazillion others within the climate space.
Thank you so much. I'm constantly surprised how many threads that there are connected to climate change. It links to everything.