The contribution of ductile cast-iron piles to a more sustainable deep foundations industry
The contribution of ductile cast-iron piles to a more sustainable deep foundations industry
As addressed by the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, at the opening of the Climate Implementation Summit at COP27 (Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt) in 2022, climate change is not only an essential challenge of our century but the defining issue of our age. Any hope of limiting temperature rise to 1.5°C means achieving global net- zero emissions by 2050. The built environment and with it the construction industry is worldwide responsible for 39% of greenhouse gas emissions (CO2), therefore it is our responsibility as part of the construction industry to take stronger actions and effective accountability. Wherever we are and whichever our position might be, our actions can produce large positive changes. The following technical paper presents an overview of the contribution of ductile cast-iron piles to achieve a more sustainable deep foundations industry, by reducing considerably the embodied carbon footprint of the implemented solutions. It is not too late yet, but we all need to redouble efforts in order to bend the global emissions curve. It is the fight of our lives and we will lose, unless we work together. The use of innovative and sustainable materials can definitely help the building sector to face successfully today´s existential challenges.
Freddy Lopez; Erich Steinlechner
18th European Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ECSMGE2024)
E - Environment, water and energy
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