Global summit tackles sustainability and resilience in the built environment

A major international summit focused on circularity, climate adaptation and sustainable development in the built environment has opened in Mexico City, with the global cement and concrete industry taking centre stage.

The Circular Cities and Policy Summit – hosted by the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) in partnership with Mexico City – has brought together policymakers, urban planners, developers, and industry leaders to explore how smarter design, material reuse and targeted policy can help build more resilient and sustainable cities.

Opening the summit, Dr Luis Rosendo Gutiérrez Romano, undersecretary for foreign trade in the Mexican government, said: “Mexico and Latin America’s green transition is real – and we have everything to be the protagonist in this sustainable transition. The global cement and concrete industry with its net zero mission is already a leader in progress and results.”

The event, which runs alongside the GCCA’s global industry gathering, is highlighting the built environment’s role in meeting global climate goals. Key themes under discussion include material circularity, nature-based solutions, low-carbon energy, and the enabling role of policy. Presentations and panels include voices from Amazon, the United Nations, Gensler, Build Change, the OECD, and the Urban Land Institute, alongside CEOs from leading global construction and materials firms.

GCCA president Fernando González said: “As leaders of this essential global industry, we know the importance of the role our materials play in building sustainable and resilient communities – but that is only part of the jigsaw. We need innovative sustainable design, effective waste management, cleaner energy and smarter policies all working together.”

Thomas Guillot, GCCA chief executive, added: “We are making progress, but we can do more with the right partnerships and policies in place – and Mexico City is showing what is possible.”

Mexico City’s secretary of Tourism, Alejandra Frausto Guerrero, said the capital’s commitment to social justice and resilience made it a fitting host: “This administration is deeply committed to sustainability and the development of more humane and resilient cities. You will find a committed ally in building circular, inclusive, and vibrant cities.”

The summit builds on the GCCA’s Concrete Future 2050 Net Zero Roadmap, the first global plan of its kind from a heavy industry sector. Its members, representing around 80% of cement production capacity outside China, have committed to reducing and ultimately eliminating CO₂ emissions in concrete.