LowEmissionAsphalt-136pg-WhitePaper-May2023

P a g e | 10 “credentialing” function) as well as purchasing emission offsets where such statutory reductions are simply not possible. We believe both will be necessary in the transportation sector to reach near term reduction goals but will fall short of what will be necessary long-term given intractable paving product design and transportation type limitations that will be discussed at length. There is, however, a larger related opportunity for the paving industry that not only can lead to net zero , but even turn roadways into carbon assets (net negative). This report is about that opportunity. Before delving into paving industry emissions, problems, or solutions, the concepts of net zero and carbon neutral represent two different approaches to carbon neutrality 19 for a given system or industry’s pollution and climate impacts, so it is important first to distinguish each: Net Zero is reducing emissions in situ to zero through either directly decarbonizing industry specific processing and operations or reductions through adjunct systematic offsets. This is sometimes referred to as “insetting” emissions. The use of paving additives that can reduce energy use or can remove operational or use phase emissions for example, would be direct or systematic reduction schemes. Utilizing adjacent or site investment in natural carbon absorption sinks like afforestation would also serve as a type of systematic offset. Carbon - Neutral is the balancing of emissions by outsourcing carbon removal ex- system ( ex situ ) in the atmosphere to counterbalance otherwise intractable systemic emissions in an industry sector. A net zero approach should always be the preferred goal over carbon neutral as it vastly improves reliability, validation integrity, scalability and likely will prove far less expensive and onerous for the paving construction and maintenance industry. 19 carbon neutrality is a state of net zero carbon dioxide (or equivalent) emissions. This can be achieved by balancing emissions of carbon dioxide with its removal (often through carbon offsetting) or by eliminating emissions from society (the transition to the "post-carbon economy"). The term is used in the context of greenhouse gas releasing processes associated with transport, energy production, agriculture, and industry. Use phase technologies and market-based carbon instruments may be the only viable solutions.