Support Legislation to Slash Construction Carbon Emissions

A bipartisan bill in Congress would invest in the research and development of low-carbon building materials to help slow climate change. This commonsense legislation takes critical steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from one of the most overlooked yet significant sources of climate pollution: our buildings.

Cement, steel, and other construction materials account for 11% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, with cement alone responsible for 8% of global climate pollution–more than aviation.  If the cement industry were a nation, it would be the third-largest emitter of CO2 in the world, after the U.S. and China.

These emissions occur largely during manufacturing processes that require extremely high temperatures and involve carbon-intensive chemical reactions. If we’re serious about addressing climate change, we must prioritize innovation in the materials that form the foundation of our infrastructure.

This bill would authorize the Department of Energy to expand its R&D efforts into low-carbon alternatives for building materials and construction techniques. It also calls for collaboration between federal agencies, research institutions, and private industry to bring cleaner, cost-effective materials to market—strengthening our economy while reducing climate harm.

This legislation is a win-win. It supports American innovation, creates jobs in clean manufacturing, and ensures the U.S. remains competitive in a global race to decarbonize the building sector. With federal and some state procurement policies increasingly favoring low-emission products, this investment will also help American manufacturers meet growing demand.

The construction sector is expected to boom in the coming decades, especially with new federal infrastructure investments. We have a responsibility—and an opportunity—to ensure that growth doesn’t come at the expense of our climate.

Sign the petition to call on Congress to pass this bipartisan bill without delay and lead the way toward a cleaner, more sustainable future built with low-carbon materials.

https://www.sierraclub.org/press-releases/2025/03/sierra-club-endorses-bipartisan-bill-revolutionize-cement-concrete-asphalt