# April 2026 — NGO/Government Roundtable on Embodied Carbon

**URL:** <https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/t/april-2026-ngo-government-roundtable-on-embodied-carbon/9316>\
**Category:** Roundtable: NGO/Government Alignment\
**Created:** [April 21, 2026, 11:09pm UTC](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/t/april-2026-ngo-government-roundtable-on-embodied-carbon/9316 "2026-04-21T23:09:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![andrewhimesclf](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.carbonleadershipforum.org/andrewhimesclf/32/3266_2.png) [@andrewhimesclf](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/u/andrewhimesclf)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2026, 11:09pm UTC](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/t/april-2026-ngo-government-roundtable-on-embodied-carbon/9316/1 "2026-04-21T23:09:03Z")

</div>

### The NGO/Government Roundtable has the following objectives:

- Share news, strategic plans, resources, and tools related to embodied carbon.
- Report planning and future dates for conferences, webinars, and meetings.
- Inspire and facilitate ongoing communication and conversation among key leaders related to embodied carbon.
- Encourage convergence on shared embodied carbon terminology, data standards, benchmarks, and targets for embodied carbon reduction.

Should your organization be a member? Contact [Andrew Himes](mailto:andrew@carbonleadershipforum.org).

[![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/carbonleadershipforum/original/2X/9/94d7632fe79059eb00e61463b92f311ae49ae4eb.jpeg "NGO/Government Roundtable April 16, 2026") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OT20Ep22U8I)

**Reports from:**

1. Rachelle Habchi, CLF — Material Spotlights: Existing and Emerging Strategies to Decarbonize Construction Materials
2. Roy Ingraffia — International Masonry Institute
3. Sarah Gregg — Natural Stone Institute
4. Joshua Clement — Global Energy Monitor
5. Bruce King — Straw Building Today Video
6. Jacqueline Adams — Climate XChange
7. Ghina Annan and Brian Johnson — MEP 2040
8. Colleen Loader — Canada GBC — Third National Embodied Carbon Summit
9. Rebecca Esau — RMI
10. Bob Redwine — Colorado Embodied Carbon Collaborative
11. Susan Fancy — Global CO2 Initiative (and Greentown Go Build 2026)
12. Yujia Han and Astrid Grigsby-Schulte — Global Energy Monitor
13. Christy Stanker — ClimateWorks Foundation
14. Wes Sullens or Lyndsay Watkins — USGBC
15. Mark Brandt — ZNCC and CHN: Sustainable Buildings and Construction Summit
16. Darienne Highsmith — Seattle and Bellevue 2030 Districts
17. Willy Carlsen — WRI
18. Cecilia Wandiga – CSTI

**Key Takeaways**

- [**Near-Term Action is Critical:** CLF’s “Materials Spotlights” report shows that current, proven strategies (e.g., material substitution, efficiency) are essential for meeting 2050 goals, as emerging technologies won’t scale until ~2040.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=384.0)
- [**Data Gaps are Closing:** New resources are making low-carbon materials more accessible. This includes a new industry-wide EPD for clay brick, a filterable catalog for natural stone, and MEP2040’s V2 Beginner’s Guide.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=1230.0)
- [**Policy & Standards are Advancing:** RMI released a CPACE primer and the ResNet 1550 standard for building embodied carbon. LEED v5 now requires a 20% carbon reduction for Platinum projects.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=2460.0)
- [**Global Data & Collaboration are Growing:** GEM’s free trackers provide transparent data on steel and cement production. Initiatives like CAGBC’s summit and Climate Exchange’s policy dashboard are fostering collective action.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=3426.0)

**Topics**

**The Urgency of Near-Term Decarbonization**

- [CLF’s “Materials Spotlights” report identifies proven, available strategies for immediate embodied carbon reduction.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=353.0)
- [**Focus:** Concrete, steel, insulation, and asphalt, which represent ~85% of A1–A3 emissions to 2050.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=537.0)
- [**Criteria for Spotlighted Technologies:**](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=537.0)
  - [Top 20% of EPD performers or \>30% reduction potential.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=537.0)
  - [Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7–9 (tested, proven).](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=571.0)
  - [Commercial Readiness Index (CRI) 1–2 (available, scaling).](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=571.0)

- [**Key Findings:**](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=720.0)
  - [**Concrete:** 62% reduction using MRI-sulfated slag; 39% reduction with Reversa binder.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=720.0)
  - [**Steel:** City of Boulder hospital steel reuse is a key case study.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=797.0)
  - [**Insulation:** Material substitution is a primary strategy.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=822.0)
  - [**Asphalt:** Washington DOT achieved a 15% reduction using 39% recycled asphalt pavement (RAP).](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=927.0)

- [**Common Barriers:** Perceived risk, cost concerns, and lack of consistent availability.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=660.0)
- [**Common Success Factors:** Early, well-coordinated team collaboration and performance-based certifications.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=660.0)

**New Data, Tools & Resources**

- [**International Masonry Institute (IMI) & Kieran Timberlake (KT)**](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=1140.0)
  - [A new, full lifecycle industry-wide EPD for clay brick was published in November 2025.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=1230.0)
  - [It covers three product categories (clay brick, thin brick, pavers) and includes A5, B, C, and D modules.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=1288.0)
  - [Conversion factors allow the data to apply to a wider range of use cases.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=1315.0)

- [**Natural Stone Institute (NSI)**](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=1530.0)
  - [The Natural Stone Catalog is an online library of 198 North American stones, filterable by sustainability metrics (EPD, HPD, certifications).](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=1560.0)
  - [A July 2026 upgrade will add international materials and an API aligned with the mindful materials framework.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=1589.0)
  - [NSI is coordinating a new industry-wide EPD for January 2027 and encouraging quarries to publish HPDs.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=1633.0)

- [**MEP2040**](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=1967.0)
  - [The quarterly forum on May 14 will launch the V2 Beginner’s Guide for MEP systems and a compilation of pilot studies.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=2040.0)
  - [The MEP2040 website features a landing page with a continuously updated list of manufacturers offering EPDs for MEP systems.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=2097.0)

- [**Global Energy Monitor (GEM)**](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=3426.0)
  - [GEM provides free, open-source data trackers for heavy industry to enable transparency and decarbonization.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=3473.0)
  - [**Global Iron and Steel Tracker:** Covers \>90% of global capacity. Data shows 90% of iron making is coal-based (blast furnace), with India as the largest developer of new, mostly coal-based capacity.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=3576.0)
  - [**Global Cement and Concrete Tracker:** Covers 3,515 plants. China and India dominate capacity. The 2026 database will be published in July.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=3756.0)

**Policy, Standards & Industry Initiatives**

- [**RMI**](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=2450.0)
  - [**CPACE Policy Primer:** Template language and guidance for integrating embodied carbon into CPACE programs.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=2460.0)
  - [**Case Studies:** Three built projects by Skanska demonstrate cost-effective low-carbon solutions (adaptive reuse, mass timber, carbon-aware concrete procurement).](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=2497.0)
  - [**ResNet 1550 Standard:** Published for quantifying, verifying, and reporting embodied carbon of residential buildings. RMI will now campaign for its adoption by policymakers.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=2539.0)

- [**USGBC (LEED v5)**](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=4063.0)
  - [**New Project Priority Credits:** Include a Multi-Attribute MEP credit that references MEP2040’s Beginner’s Guide to incentivize products with EPDs for identified data gaps.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=4069.0)
  - [**IP Prerequisite Carbon Assessment:** A 25-year whole-life carbon assessment that integrates embodied carbon credits.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=4171.0)
  - [**LEED v5 Platinum Requirement:** A mandatory 20% embodied carbon reduction is now required for Platinum certification.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=4252.0)

- [**Colorado Embodied Carbon Collaborative (CECC)**](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=2728.0)
  - [Launched a 5-year goal to achieve a 40% embodied carbon reduction by 2030.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=2801.0)
  - [**Scope:** Whole buildings (structure, enclosure, interiors) and A1–A3 lifecycle stages.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=2880.0)
  - [**Method:** Extrapolates CLF Benchmarks V2 data to set targets for more project types, including a specific target for light-frame multi-family.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=2918.0)

- [**Climate Exchange**](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=1741.0)
  - [Tracks 68 climate mitigation policies across 7 sectors for all 50 states.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=1800.0)
  - [The State Climate Policy Dashboard tracks embodied carbon policies, showing 9 states with enacted legislation.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=1879.0)

- [**Canadian Green Building Council (CAGBC)**](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=2204.0)
  - [Hosting the 3rd National Embodied Carbon Summit (Montreal, free, 80 attendees).](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=2234.0)
  - [**Goal:** Address headwinds to collective action through workshops on communications and coordination.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=2280.0)

- [**Seattle & Bellevue 2030 Districts**](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=4420.0)
  - [Nonprofit focused on decarbonizing 73M sq ft of buildings.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=4497.0)
  - [Growing focus on embodied carbon, including an annual Vision Award for projects like The Metropole.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=4520.0)

- [**WRI**](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=4719.0)
  - [Published a working paper analyzing global product-level emission standards for cement, concrete, and steel, with recommendations for harmonization.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=4727.0)

- [**Centre for Science and Technology Innovations (CSTI)**](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=4860.0)
  - [Supporting Kenya’s new net-zero construction roadmap by piloting SCMs (e.g., biochar) for pavers and structural walls.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=4957.0)

**Emerging Materials & Innovation**

- [**Buildwell.site (Bruce King)**](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=1363.0)
  - [Released an 11-minute video on straw building, highlighting its potential to offset the concrete industry’s emissions.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=1363.0)

- [**Greentown Go Build 2026 (Global CO2 Initiative)**](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=3163.0)
  - [An accelerator program for 5 startups developing carbon-negative materials from waste.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=3163.0)
  - [**Examples:** Carbon Infuse (carbon-negative SCMs), Low Carbon Materials (biochar aggregates), Neocrete (additive enabling up to 70% cement replacement).](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=3269.0)
  - [Materials will be trialed in Amazon buildings in 2027.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=3355.0)

**Next Steps**

- [**Andrew (CLF):** Email meeting recording, chat links, and registration for the next meeting (July).](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=5068.0)
- [**All Participants:**](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=2040.0)
  - [Register for the MEP2040 quarterly forum (May 14).](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=2040.0)
  - [Explore the Natural Stone Catalog and volunteer for NSI’s EPD committee.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=1530.0)
  - [Share RMI’s CPACE primer and ResNet 1550 standard with policy networks.](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=2460.0)
  - [Watch for GEM’s 2026 steel report (next month) and cement database (July).](https://fathom.video/share/6392hzbjKssW-GzpVhzuoqyYpcpo5dec?tab=summary&timestamp=3690.0)