Why is shifting focus from building operation to construction materials critical for achieving China's 'dual carbon' goals, according to the white paper?

According to the white paper, building operation-stage emission reduction potential is gradually narrowing, while embodied carbon emissions from building material production have become the key breakthrough point for decarbonization. The report cites that in 2022, China's construction and building sector emitted 5.13 billion tons of CO₂ — accounting for 48.3% of the nation's energy-related carbon emissions — and global data from UNEP shows the construction value chain contributes 37% of global process-related emissions, confirming a broad industry consensus to shift mitigation efforts upstream to materials production.

What are the three core evaluation dimensions used in the white paper to assess non-metallic advanced materials for low-carbon construction?

The white paper systematically evaluates non-metallic advanced materials — such as fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP), ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC), and carbon fiber composites — across three dimensions: low-carbon performance, durability, and whole-life-cycle cost. These criteria guide the engineering pathways and conditions required for scaling up substitution of traditional high-carbon building materials.

Tongji University and Saudi Aramco Release White Paper on Advanced Building Materials Transformation Under Dual Carbon Strategy

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Tongji University and Saudi Aramco Release White Paper on Advanced Building Materials Transformation Under Dual Carbon Strategy — ChemBrief Topics

Tongji University and Saudi Aramco Release White Paper on Advanced Building Materials Transformation Under Dual Carbon Strategy

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