Brick-Making as Bad as Flying, When It Comes to Carbon

Bricks have been used in construction for centuries. Yet, with new research and dismal statistics surfacing, some advocates are wondering if the ancient building tradition is worth its weight in coal.

According to a report from the German Press Agency, former head of the World Trade Organization, Mike Moore, recently said brick production is one of the developing world’s largest burners of coal, a major producer of greenhouse gases.

In Wellington's Dominion Post, Moore said, the brick industry — predominantly located in India and China — produces 2% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions. That's the same percentage as international air travel. But no one is attacking poor brick-makers for their environmental sins, prompting Moore to question the people who take easy aim at the aviation industry, which is critical for tourism economies in New Zealand and other remote parts of the world. He called for a "sense of proportion in the debate about climate change."

As environmental disdain for the aviation industry takes flight, one can only wonder if big-brick business will be next. With nearly 97% of the world’s clay bricks produced in undeveloped countries — accounting for massive and much-needed revenues — a ban on bricks seems as unlikely as a quick end to vacation flights.