Effect Assessment of Climate Requirements for Concrete - a Swedish Case Study

Paper in proceeding, 2026

Reduction of climate impact can be governed and addressed in multiple ways and by various actors within the value chain. One approach is to impose technical measures for the climate impact of individual construction projects, and this is the approach used by the Swedish Transport Administration, Trafikverket, responsible for Sweden's transport infrastructure. A key part of this governance includes explicit requirements regarding the climate impact of concrete used for reinforced concrete structures. However, these requirements may have a strong influence on cost and technical properties, both during design, construction and service life. In addition, the possibility to fulfil the requirements depends on and affects the supply of raw materials, such as cement and supplementary cementitious materials, in the construction sector over time. This study investigates the consequences, based on a demand/asset perspective, that the requirements entail.