How resilient are regional industrial decarbonization pathways? Insights from the building materials industry in Lower Austria

Abstract

It is often assumed that crises are important catalysts for structural change. In this vein, ‘build back better’ programs are sought to tackle acute crisis and, at the same time, catalyze paths towards less carbon-intense production and consumption. However, little is known about how crises affect ongoing decarbonization efforts in different industry sectors and how this might differ in a variety of regional contexts. The building sector has been identified as one of the largest global contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and resource consumption. That is why a faster uptake of low-carbon building materials such as green cement and wood is a key goal. Based on a qualitative content analysis, which includes expert interviews, this paper traces the uptake of low carbon products in the building materials industry in the Lower Austrian region. To better understand the regional decarbonization pathway and the impact of the COVID-19 crisis, this paper explores key events, processes and related stakeholders that may accelerate or decelerate the dynamics of regional decarbonization pathways. The analysis shows that the industry’s decarbonization efforts have continued, but no significant catalysing effects from the crisis could be identified.