India’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 and reducing the carbon intensity by 45 per cent by 2030 is gradually impacting every industry including construction, where resource-efficient development has been thrust into the spotlight. According to Shekhar Patel, President, CREDAI, rapid urbanisation and expanding infrastructure reinforce the urgency to adopt climate-conscious construction practices. One such practice is the adoption of green concrete for being a vital enabler of low-carbon construction. But what exactly is green concrete, what sort of projects has it been used for so far, and with what result? 

Concrete is considered environmentally unfriendly because some of its constituents have a high carbon footprint. The production of cement, one of its key components, contributes close to a tenth of global carbon emissions. Quarrying for aggregates, another constituent, is also an energy-intensive process. However, changing these key constituents can help lower the carbon footprint of concrete...