Low carbon concrete provider Ecocem is to brief the Government on how it can reduce carbon emissions from concrete by 70pc by 2020.

Donal O'Riain, Chief Executive of Ecocem, told a conference on the built environment this week that the environmental and health damage caused by cement plants since 2000 is nearing €2 billion.

He told the Better Building conference held at Croke Park that Ecocem will soon be submitting a proposal to Government, as part of the Climate Change Bill, detailing how the cement and concrete sector can reduce its carbon intensity by 70pc between now and 2020.

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He said Ecocem had successfully contributed to reducing Co2 emissions in the cement sector by two million tonnes over the past 10 years.

Mr O'Riain was critical of the slow pace of change when it comes to reducing emissions and said the State needs to focus not only on the scale of emission reductions but equally on the steps, strategies and policies required to bring about carbon neutrality.

He said: "We have plenty of options in terms of green technology ideas as not scarce, what is scarce is constructive leadership and over the last year the developments we have seen haven’t been entirely reassuring."

He said the current Climate Change Bill had been leached of all policy content.

The Better Building conference held at Croke Park was attended by more than 500 people.

(CD/MH)