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Climate and health damages from global concrete production

Author

Listed:
  • Sabbie A. Miller

    (University of California)

  • Frances C. Moore

    (University of California)

Abstract

Growing infrastructure needs worldwide have created an unprecedented demand for concrete. Its production results in high GHG emissions, the primary focus of research and mitigation strategies in the sector. However, emissions of air pollutants and the economic burden of resultant health consequences are not yet known. Here, we show worldwide concrete production contributes approximately 7.8% of nitrogen oxide emissions, 4.8% of sulfur oxide emissions, 5.2% of particulate matter emissions smaller than 10 microns and 6.4% of particulate emissions smaller than 2.5 microns. Economic valuation of the damages from these and GHG emissions total ~75% of the cement and concrete industry current value. Commonly discussed GHG emissions mitigation strategies can halve these costs but, under certain scenarios, may increase local air pollution and associated health damages. These findings highlight potential synergies and trade-offs between GHG mitigation and improvements in local air quality, with implications for the political feasibility of different mitigation options.

Suggested Citation

  • Sabbie A. Miller & Frances C. Moore, 2020. "Climate and health damages from global concrete production," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 10(5), pages 439-443, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:10:y:2020:i:5:d:10.1038_s41558-020-0733-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-020-0733-0
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Takuma Watari & Zhi Cao & Sho Hata & Keisuke Nansai, 2022. "Efficient use of cement and concrete to reduce reliance on supply-side technologies for net-zero emissions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Bukhari, Ayaz Hussain & Raja, Muhammad Asif Zahoor & Shoaib, Muhammad & Kiani, Adiqa Kausar, 2022. "Fractional order Lorenz based physics informed SARFIMA-NARX model to monitor and mitigate megacities air pollution," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    3. Chunhui Chen & Zesen Peng & JiaYu Gu & Yaxiong Peng & Xiaoyang Huang & Li Wu, 2020. "Exploring Environmentally Friendly Biopolymer Material Effect on Soil Tensile and Compressive Behavior," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-13, December.
    4. Danyang Cheng & David M. Reiner & Fan Yang & Can Cui & Jing Meng & Yuli Shan & Yunhui Liu & Shu Tao & Dabo Guan, 2023. "Projecting future carbon emissions from cement production in developing countries," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    5. Izhar Hussain Shah & Sabbie A. Miller & Daqian Jiang & Rupert J. Myers, 2022. "Cement substitution with secondary materials can reduce annual global CO2 emissions by up to 1.3 gigatons," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    6. Rissman, Jeffrey & Bataille, Chris & Masanet, Eric & Aden, Nate & Morrow, William R. & Zhou, Nan & Elliott, Neal & Dell, Rebecca & Heeren, Niko & Huckestein, Brigitta & Cresko, Joe & Miller, Sabbie A., 2020. "Technologies and policies to decarbonize global industry: Review and assessment of mitigation drivers through 2070," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    7. Xinhang Xu & Chongchong Qi & Xabier M. Aretxabaleta & Chundi Ma & Dino Spagnoli & Hegoi Manzano, 2024. "The initial stages of cement hydration at the molecular level," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.

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