Climate Change

Windmills in wheat field

Together We Are Building a Greener Future

“The construction industry is the delivery vehicle for building a greener, more climate friendly future.  Finding a way to ensure that what our members build is more efficient will have a significant impact on climate change.” - Stephen E. Sandherr, AGC’s chief executive officer.

AGC members have been at the forefront of building green for decades, making communities safer and healthier, and our public infrastructure more efficient and resilient. Improvements in our transportation, building, and industrial sectors will help our communities withstand weather events and conserve natural resources---leading to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. In 2021, AGC members sat down and began discussing what climate change policies could mean for the construction industry. And we are still talking---with ongoing task forces and educational outreach with AGC members.  These conversations will help us identify where we need to focus our efforts as an industry, what tools we can provide AGC members to better understand climate change, and how others will look at us to engage.

Read AGC's 2021 Climate Change Task Force Report here.  Read the full news release here.  

To kick off the discussions, AGC released a report calling for investment in physical infrastructure and increased funding opportunities and incentives for public and private projects to help make our neighborhoods more resilient.  Association officials identified steps contractors can take to operate more efficiently. This includes encouraging equipment manufacturers to improve the fuel efficiency of their equipment, helping firms learn how to reduce equipment idling and sharing information about industry innovations like solar powered job site trailers and energy efficient job site lighting.  AGC also highlighted the need for expedited permitting for projects that improve efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Find resources to help you delve more deeply into the issues: Communities | Supply Chains | Technology & Programs.