{"id":7887,"date":"2022-11-18T09:00:21","date_gmt":"2022-11-18T14:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adsknews.autodesk.com\/?post_type=views&p=7887"},"modified":"2023-02-06T16:30:27","modified_gmt":"2023-02-06T21:30:27","slug":"embodied-carbon-ira-cop27","status":"publish","type":"views","link":"https:\/\/adsknews.autodesk.com\/en\/views\/embodied-carbon-ira-cop27\/","title":{"rendered":"The opportunity of the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act and COP27 to act on embodied carbon"},"content":{"rendered":"

Just last month, a new United Nations report revealed that climate efforts have fallen short globally, and <\/span>we\u2019ve<\/span> collectively fallen off track to meet the commitments made in the Paris Agreement. Yet this <\/span>isn\u2019t<\/span> a time for resignation.<\/span><\/span> As leaders from around the world gather in Egypt for the United Nations annual climate conference (<\/span>COP27<\/span><\/a>), the focus is on action. The recently passed Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) marks the most significant climate and clean energy legislation in U.S. history. With the IRA comes great opportunity.<\/span>

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Autodesk joined leaders from around the world in Egypt for the United Nations annual climate conference.<\/p><\/div> But how do we go from policy to implementation, to meet our collective climate goals? Fortunately, there are tools available today that can help us reduce the emissions of tomorrow.\u00a0<\/span><\/span> At Autodesk, we believe that <\/span><\/span>we can design and make a better world for all<\/span><\/span><\/a>. Not only are we focused on improving our own operations through science-based climate goals, but <\/span>we\u2019re<\/span> also dedicated to advancing our industries, and partnering with our customers, empowering them to create solutions, connect their data, and accelerate the outcomes that matter to them.<\/span><\/span> <\/p>\n

Learn<\/span><\/span><\/a> about Autodesk\u2019s presence at COP27.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The embodied carbon opportunity<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

One area that particularly excites me lies in reducing embodied carbon. The carbon emissions contained in the processing, manufacturing, transportation, and construction of projects or products are all classified as embodied carbon.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> We know that reducing embodied carbon during the design phase has immense impact. Since global warming works at an exponential rate, by reducing emissions presently going into the atmosphere, we also reduce the impact of future emissions.<\/span><\/span> Let\u2019s<\/span> take the construction industry, which <\/span><\/span>accounts for nearly 40% of global energy-related carbon emissions<\/span>. Further, around 30% of materials<\/span><\/span><\/a> made for use in construction are thrown out.<\/span><\/span> Opportunity also awaits our manufacturing customers. In the U.S., manufacturing accounts for <\/span><\/span>almost a quarter (23%) of direct carbon emissions<\/span><\/span><\/a>,<\/span><\/span> and by 2050, the growth in population and associated demand for consumer goods will require at least twice the energy and materials currently used.<\/span><\/span> We know technology plays a crucial role in combatting global climate change.<\/span><\/span> You <\/span>can\u2019t<\/span> commit to lowering carbon if <\/span>you\u2019re<\/span> not measuring it. Measuring carbon requires digital transformation, incorporating tools and technology to create and implement more efficient processes. We see <\/span>great opportunity<\/span> to help our customers in this area.<\/span><\/span> <\/p>\n

The Inflation Reduction Act<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

The U.S. Government is making investments in our industries, particularly in the construction and manufacturing sectors. <\/span>What\u2019s<\/span> most exciting is the <\/span><\/span>$369 billion in funding available for climate and clean energy<\/span><\/span><\/a> through this legislation, which can have true impact on both the outcomes of our customers, as well as their bottom lines.<\/span><\/span> This is an effort the U.S. has been leading for the past few years. The provisions in the IRA only further this leadership by investing billions to create both supply and demand in the construction and manufacturing industries for low-embodied carbon materials and products. In fact, within the IRA, there is almost $6 billion to reduce factory emissions, $250 million set aside for manufacturers to measure embodied carbon for construction materials and products, and more than $4 billion for public buildings and infrastructure projects to use them<\/span>.<\/span><\/span> In AEC, a variety of tools exist to calculate embodied carbon. One example is <\/span><\/span>EC3<\/span><\/span><\/a>, a free, open-source tool that analyzes available materials and suppliers to help professionals reduce embodied carbon. <\/span>We\u2019ve<\/span> been a lead sponsor of EC3, providing easy access for our customers through integration with our construction software.<\/span><\/span> In manufacturing, our recent collaborations with <\/span><\/span>Makersite<\/span><\/span><\/a> and <\/span><\/span>Pr\u00e9<\/span> Sustainability<\/span><\/span><\/a> will soon provide users with an ability to measure the embodied carbon impact of products designed in our software. Bringing environmental data directly in the designers\u2019 tools will help them get immediate feedback on material & manufacturing choices and enable sustainability-led product design at scale.<\/span><\/span> <\/p>\n

Continuing the embodied carbon conversation at COP27<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n